Syracuse, NY - A fire that left a Syracuse woman and her dog dead Saturday morning appears to have started accidentally in the kitchen, fire investigators said today. The fire, at 302 LaForte Ave., started around 6:11 a.m. Saturday. When firefighters arrived, they found 50-year-old Darlene Bielby Givens on a couch in her living room, Syracuse Fire Lt. Ken...
Darlene Bielby Givens, 50, died hours after Syracuse firefighters pulled her from her burning 302 LaForte Ave. home. Syracuse, NY - A fire that left a Syracuse woman and her dog dead Saturday morning appears to have started accidentally in the kitchen, fire investigators said today.
The fire, at 302 LaForte Ave., started around 6:11 a.m. Saturday.
When firefighters arrived, they found 50-year-old Darlene Bielby Givens on a couch in her living room, Syracuse Fire Lt. Ken Heffernan said.
The fire was in the kitchen, which is adjacent to the living room, Heffernan said. There was heat and smoke throughout the home, which was heavily damaged, he said.
Bielby Givens was taken to Upstate University Hospital where she died shortly before noon Saturday.
Bielby Givens' dog, Cha Cha, died in the fire.
"The case is still under investigation," Heffernan said, "but we are looking at a potential accidental ignition of the fire."
An autopsy will be performed, likely within the next day, Heffernan said.
Contact Catie O'Toole at cotoole@syracuse.com or 470-2134.