By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Salkum woman who was rescued from her burning home on Saturday remains in critical condition today.
The 65-year-old, whose name has not been released, was airlifted to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland after the morning fire on the 2100 block of Spencer Road near Forest Retreat Drive.
The blaze was contained to the room of origin, but the woman who uses a wheelchair only made it to the door before her call to 911 cut off.
Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Mauermann was the first on the scene, arriving one minute before Lewis County Fire District 8 and pulled her out the door to safety. The sheriff’s office says Mauermann found her tangled in a phone cord which he had to cut.
Fire Investigator Derrick Paul said she suffered burns, but the smoke inhalation was really the problem.
The woman uses oxygen, he said. The pump and oxygen tank were near her when she awoke to the fire, but there was no explosion, he said.
The cause was a cigarette in a trash can, according to Paul.
Sheriff Steve Mansfield yesterday praised Mauermann saying while its the duty of properly equipped firefighters to do what the deputy did, he is extremely proud of the deputy’s actions.
•••
For more, read “Breaking news: Salkum woman critical after morning house fire” from Saturday August 13, 2011 at 12:22 p.m., here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter