Woman dies in house fire in Caroline

A Caroline County woman died in a house fire early yesterday in the county's Port Royal area, authorities said.

Marion Detweiler, 78, of the 8100 block of Eva Road, was found dead inside her home after firefighters extinguished the blaze, reported at 1:39 a.m., according to a news release issued by Caroline Sheriff A.A. "Tony" Lippa Jr.

Detweiler's husband, 87-year-old Steven Detweiler, managed to crawl out of the home while attempting to save his wife, Lippa said. Steven Detweiler suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to Riverside Tappahannock Hospital. His condition was not immediately available.

Authorities said poor road conditions because of heavy snow and wind hampered efforts to reach the house, which was engulfed in flames when the first fire units arrived at 2:07 a.m. A lack of fire hydrants forced crews to fight the blaze with water driven to the scene in tanker trucks.

Investigators believe the fire was an accident, sparked by a generator. The official cause has not been determined. -- Mark Bowes