Witnesses stated that Ms. Werzinsky went back into the house to try to save her pet. A Pennsylvania State Police fire investigator stated that he believed the fire started in a living room sofa, perhaps from a cigarette or ashes from a cigarette. Several neighbors tried to gain entrance to the home hoping to save Ms. Werzinsky, but were repelled by the intense heat. Although firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes of the alarm, no one knew the woman's exact location and making a search of the second floor was extremely difficult due to the partially burned stairway. Once the fire was brought under control, firefighters found the woman's body and that of her dog.
Cause of death appears to be smoke inhalation.
Ms. Werzinsky's husband was working at the time of the fire and arrived at the scene while firefighters were trying to contain the flames and search for his wife. The entire Staff and volunteers from the Hillside SPCA send our deepest condolences to Ms. Werzinsky's husband and family on their tremendous loss. Unauthorized use of any elements of the site constitutes copyright infringement and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.