Fatal fire
FARMERS BRANCH — An elderly Farmers Branch woman died Thursday night after being pulled from her burning home.
The fire, in the 3100 block of Spur Trail, was reported just before 9 p.m. Wayne Webb was able to escape the burning house unhurt, but his wife was trapped inside.
Webb went for help to his neighbors, who couldn't get in; the doors were locked.
Two Farmers Branch police officers arrived. They broke down the front door and battled heavy smoke to find 86-year-old Rosemary Webb in a front room of the 4,000 square foot residence.
She was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, but later died.
The two officers were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. "Anyone who runs into a burning house is a hero," said City of Farmers Branch spokesman Tom Bryson in praise of the police and firefighters who responded to the scene.
It took almost two hours for the fire to be brought under control initially, but it reignited overnight and was still burning at daybreak Friday.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, but it started in a laundry room where a new gas dryer had recently been installed.
Fire Chief Kyle King said the 58-year-old house where the Webbs raised their two sons was a total loss.
Alison Durizik said her grandmother, who recently passed away, had been good friends with Rose Webb.
"I'm going off to work today with a heavy heart, thinking that my grandmother probably has her friend now," Durizik said. "I'm hoping that her husband and her sons are going to be able to cope with this."
Farmers Branch firefighters were assisted by colleagues from Addison, Carrollton and Coppell.
E-mail cvega@wfaa.com
