Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 15, 1991                   TAG: 9103150370
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Monica Davey
DATELINE: BEDFORD                                LENGTH: Short

BEDFORD WOMAN, 88, KILLED IN HOUSE FIRE

Florrie L. Arthur had lived alone in the house three miles east of Bedford, Sheriff Carl Wells said. She was found dead at the scene.

A motorist on U.S. 460 noticed the burning building and telephoned emergency crews about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Bedford Fire Chief Ray Trail said.

When authorities arrived, the old, wooden-frame house was spewing flames.

The fire was centralized in the living room, where officials believe it started, Trail said. They suspect a wood heater may have sparked the fire.

The house was essentially destroyed. What wasn't burned was wrecked by smoke damage, Trail said.

The woman, who slept in a front room, was found in between rooms, Trail said. "She must have been up," he said.

He would not speculate, however, on whether she had been trying to escape from the fire.

Keywords:
FATALITY