A 96-year-old Niagara Falls woman died Tuesday morning when a fire erupted at her Woodlawn Avenue house. Firefighters responded to a call around 6:20 a.m. at 2753 Woodlawn. The lone resident of the home, Maryanne Laratta, was found in her second-floor bedroom.
The Buffalo News reports the fire was contained to part of the living room and bedroom where Laratta was found. It was under control within a half-hour. Family members say Laratta was hard of hearing and may not have heard the smoke alarm.
The cause of the blaze is believed to be electrical in nature.