MORGANTON, N.C. — A Morganton woman was killed on Thursday in an early morning fire caused by a heater, Burke County EMS confirmed.
At around 3 a.m., West End Fire Department responded to a fire, possibly with an occupant still inside at a home on Farris Loop.
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The Burke County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating, along with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
The fire department arrived to find a single-story home on heavy fire. Firefighters began their search with assistance from other departments.
They were unable to rescue 54-year-old Mary Louis Mode due to the conditions on arrival. The fire was brought under control within minutes, but firefighters remained on the scene for more than five hours.
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