92-year-old woman who died after being pulled from burning home identified

Fire was called in around 5:40 a.m. in 5800 block of Oak Run

UPDATE: 

SAN ANTONIO – A 92-year-old woman who was rescued early Tuesday morning from a burning home on the city's NE Side has died at the hospital, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office.

The fire was reported at a home in the 5800 block of Oak Run around 5:40 a.m.

San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood said the victim's son, a 64-year-old man, managed to escape the burning home after trying to alert his mother, who was identified as Francis Kirchner.

Hood said firefighters were able to find Kirchner and pull her out of the home after battling through heavy smoke.

Kirchner was in critical condition, suffering from a severe case of smoke inhalation, and was rushed to Northeast Methodist Hospital, where she later died.

There was no update on the condition of the man, who was also taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment. 

Arson investigators arrived after daylight to begin taking pictures and looking for clues about the cause of the fire.  

(Previously)

A 92-year-old woman was taken to an area hospital in critical condition after she was pulled from a burning home, San Antonio firefighters said Tuesday.

The fire was reported around 5:40 a.m. in the 5800 block of Oak Run, not far from Judson and Stahl roads on the city's Northeast Side.

According to firefighters, it took about five minutes to find the elderly woman through the heavy smoke. She was taken to Northeast Methodist Hospital in critical condition after suffering severe smoke inhalation.

A second person, a 64-year-old man, also received attention from paramedics after crawling out of the burning home through the garage. He was also taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

The family's dog, once believed to be inside, did manage to get out safely, firefighters said.

San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood said the roof on the back of the home has been completely destroyed. The cause of the fire is not currently known. 

According to the San Antonio Fire Department website, as many as 17 units answered the call.

This is a developing story. Stay with KSAT 12 both online and on-air for more information.


About the Authors:

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.