House fires can be tragic, Not only do the occupants lose their residence and possessions, but they can also be hurt or worse. That is what sadly took place in Glendale, Arizona, on June 14. A lethal house fire claimed the life of an elderly woman named Serlina Yuk-King Yee, per People. She was 76 years old. Her husband, whose name was not made public, attempted to rescue her but was not successful. He is in the hospital because of smoke inhalation. The blaze was reportedly accidental. said José Miguel Santiago. He is a spokesperson for the Glendale Police Department.
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The fire occurred late at night, per the outlet. Firefighters got to the burning home at 1:30 a.m. The husband had made it outdoors, although his wife did not. She was reportedly alive at the time, per People, was taken to a hospital, and unfortunately passed away there.
A story about the fire on Arizona's Family states that the husband is 77 years old. It also says that his wife was dead when she was discovered inside their home.
The Wife Reportedly May Have Had Some Health Problems
According to an account of the fire on the website of WILX10, Serlina Yuk-King Yee was found deceased in the home. A neighbor of the couple's named Don McDowell commented that "He [the husband] was pretty mobile. The lady was on a walker, and she was not in good physical condition at all."
He also said that the husband bravely tried to help his wife. The flames were evidently too much for him to succeed in doing so. It sounds like the fire was a stubborn one. Crews "battled the flames for hours" according to the outlet. There was a significant firefighting response, said the neighbor. McDowell told the outlet, "So, I come wandering out here in my shorts, like holy cow. Honestly, I didn't know Glendale had that many fire trucks."
An Official Cause of the Fire Has Not Yet Been Determined
The reason for the blaze is still being looked into. However, per WILX10, "a fire mitigation team at the scene indicated it may have started near the center of the home and appeared to be electrical."
There is some unofficial speculation that solar panels might have played a role in the fire. Solar panels and wiring were allegedly noticed in the couple's yard. Their neighbor, Don McDowell, mentioned that the husband liked solar panels that can be installed by homeowners themselves.
"He was putting on solar panels on the back of his house, and that's kind of what the school of thought was that something went awry right there," McDowell shared.
