An electric space heater is believed to be the source of the fire that claimed the life of a Yancey County resident Friday night, April 19th. The home, located off Mine Branch Road, was occupied by an unidentified man and a woman. An electric heater apparently malfunctioned and caused the house to catch on fire. According to Fire Marshal Neil McCurry, the fire spread so quickly the man attempted to get his girlfriend out of the house but was unable to due to the heavy smoke. The woman, in her 60s, did not survive even though Newdale Fire Department, along with neighboring fire departments, swiftly responded to the scene. Thirty firefighters were needed to get the blaze under control according to McCurry.
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