A Corydon woman died in a house fire Monday.
The preliminary cause of 70-year-old Mary Lou Patterson’s death was “smoke inhalation sustained in a house fire with absence of non-fire related trauma,” said a release from the Henderson County Coroner’s Office.
There were no other injuries except those sustained in the fire led to Patterson’s death, said an employee at the coroner’s office.
The initial call came with a report that a woman was trapped inside the home at 415 Main St. in Corydon, said a Monday evening news release from the Corydon Civil Defense Fire and Rescue. Crews dispatched at 11:16 a.m., said the release.
Seven minutes after the call went out, the first crews arrived on the scene, finding 60%-70% of the house engulfed in flames with Patterson trapped inside, said the release.
Another resident, Terry Patterson, had burns on his body when crews arrived, and he was treated by Deaconess Emergency Medical Services before being life-flighted to a burn center in Louisville, said the release.
Corydon Chief Bryan Coghill said Terry is the son of Mary Lou Patterson.
The release said that high winds and the structure starting to collapse caused firefighters to perform a defensive attack.
At approximately 12:31 p.m., firefighters found Mary Lou Patterson’s body and brought it out of the home, said the release.
Both the Corydon Civil Defense and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the blaze, said the release. They have not yet determined the cause, but Coghill said officials have deemed in non-suspicious.
Coghill said in addition to Corydon’s department, Cairo, Robards and Henderson fire departments sent equipment to the scene.
Volunteers from Smith Mills and Spottsville fire departments also arrived, as well as Henderson City/County Rescue Squad, Deaconess EMS, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson County Coroner’s Office, Henderson EMA, Henderson County Emergency 911, according to the news release.
Firefighters battled a blaze engulfing the two-story residence that Coghill described as one of the biggest his department has faced in the past couple years. He said their efforts were hampered by changing wind directions and gusty conditions.
