Elderly Woman Dies in Detroit House Fire

March 6, 2008
Investigators are trying to learn what started a fire that killed a 79-year-old woman.

DETROIT --

Investigators are trying to learn what started a fire that killed a 79-year-old woman.

The fire started Wednesday night at a home on Ashton and Fenkell roads on Detroit's west side.

Mable Duskin was pronounced dead when EMS arrived at Sinai-Grace Hospital.

Duskin lived in the home for 20 years with her extended family. Her son, grandson and great granddaughter were able to make it out safely.

"This is my parents, my brother, my grandmother. I grew up in this house," said granddaughter Tiffany Collins-Johnson.

I was sleeping. I woke up to it. My daughter woke me up," said family member Elbert Collins.

Fire investigators said they believe the fire started in the den, on the first floor and Duskin was in her room, on the second floor with the door shut.

"It was this blaze of fire and I wasn't able to get my grandmother out," Collins said.

An investigation into how the fire started is under way, however, the family said they believe it was an electrical fire.

Investigators said they only found one smoke detector in the basement of the home and it did not appear to be working.

The Red Cross announced they will assist the family.

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