Woman dies in Lower Burrell house fire

A woman was killed in a house fire late Wednesday in Lower Burrell.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman Thursday morning as Kimberly George, 50.

George had been taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, where she died shortly after midnight.

A neighbor reported the fire about 11:15 p.m. at 251 Trailer Blvd. in the city’s Kinloch neighborhood.

Someone at the scene told responding firefighters that one person was inside the burning home, said Chief Ted Hereda of Lower Burrell’s Kinloch Volunteer Fire Department No. 1.

Within five to seven minutes of arrival, firefighters were able to get inside to search the home and that’s when they found George, Hereda said.

Lower Burrell Assistant Fire Chief Doug Morris said no firefighters were injured battling the fire at the one-story home.

“It was a quick knockdown,” he said.

The house is severely damaged and uninhabitable, but Hereda said he did not consider it a total loss. A cat also died.

A state police fire marshal is investigating.

Mary and Vince Tranchina live across the street from the house that burned. Vince Tranchina said he heard banging and looked outside to see someone at their neighbor’s door, likely trying to alert anyone inside about the fire.

Mary Tranchina said her family has lived in Lower Burrell since 2004, and their neighbors were there before that. She described them as friendly.

“You couldn’t ask for better neighbors,” she said.