A pre-dawn house fire on Bellview Drive killed a Bensalem woman early Tuesday after firefighters pulled her from inside the burning home.
Flames broke out around 2:45 a.m. at a single-family home on the 2700 block of Bellview Drive. Officers and firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the residence. A male resident was already outside and told crews a woman was still inside.
Firefighters forced entry through the front door under heavy smoke conditions and located the woman unconscious near the kitchen. Despite life-saving efforts by EMS, she was pronounced dead at the scene. She has been identified as Christine Toal, 56.
The male resident was transported to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital for evaluation and treatment. His identity has not been released.
Bensalem Township Police, Bensalem Fire Rescue, Bensalem Township Volunteer Fire Department, and mutual aid companies all responded to the scene. No injuries to public safety personnel were reported. Fire crews contained the blaze before it spread to neighboring homes.
Battalion Chief Nicholas Altomare and Bensalem Township Police detectives are conducting a joint investigation into the cause. The fire remains under active investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bensalem Township Police.
