By Karen Blackledge
TREVORTON — The body of the elderly disabled woman who was trapped in Friday’s fire on Shamokin Street has been found, and the sister who tried to rescue her was in critical condition.
The body of Gertrude Koppenheffer, 95, was found in the kitchen area of their three-story home at West Market and Third streets. State police fire marshal Norm Fedder confirmed her body was found at about 10:30 p.m. Friday.
Her sister, Pat Miller, in her 70s, was reported in critical condition in the Lehigh Valley Hospital Burn Unit on Saturday night. She reportedly has second-degree burns.
Miller went into the house twice to try to save her sister, a neighbor said. Miller was rescued by firefighters.
Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley said Koppenheffer was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Barry J. Leisenring.
Kelley said the cause of death was thermal injuries, and the manner of death was accidental. No autopsy was conducted.
He understood she was partly disabled because firefighters were looking for a wheelchair in an attempt to pinpoint her location.
Kelley said someone from his office will meet Fedder on Monday at the fire scene. Fedder will continue his investigation into the cause of the blaze.
The fire broke out at about 3 p.m. in the large home at 249 W. Shamokin St.
The house at one time housed Miller’s Bakery.
About 100 firefighters responded to the five-alarm fire.
