The victim, an elderly female who was a long-time Springfield resident, is yet to be identified by fire and police officials.
07/12/11-Springfield-Staff Photo by Dave Roback- Springfield Fire Commissioner Gary Cassanelli enters 100 Phillips Ave. in Springfield where a woman was found dead following a fire inside the home. Update, 6:20 p.m.: The house at 100 Phillips Ave. is now a crime scene.
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SPRINGFIELD - A city resident and her cat were found deceased following a fire in their Boston Road neighborhood home Monday afternoon.
Firefighters responded to 100 Phillips Ave. just after 3 p.m. as city DPW workers collecting garbage first reported the fire after spotting smoke coming from the home.
Crews were able to knock down the fire quickly, but firefighters found the woman's body during a search of the home.
The victim, an elderly female who was a long-time Springfield resident, has not been identified by fire and police officials.
Evelyn Pedraza, who lives across the street from the victim, was crying and praying as firefighters broke the news that her friend had died.
"I saw the smoke and ran across the street and touched the door," Pedraza said. "It was very hot and I called 911. Then I tried calling her but she didn't answer."
Pedraza said that she lived across the street from the victim for the past 19 years, and regarded her as a "best friend."
"She was such a sweet little lady. I can't believe she is gone," Pedraza said, while choking back tears. "We would have tea together and talk about the flowers we planted. She loved flowers. I know she is in a better place now, but every time I look across the street and don't see her, I will be sad."
The Springfield Arson and Bomb Squad is working to determine the cause of the blaze and detectives with the city police department are working to contact the victim's family and positively identify her.
This is a developing story. Details will be added as they become available.