Elderly disabled man rescued, woman dead after two-alarm house fire in Kelso

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A two-alarm house fire in Kelso resulted in the death of one woman and the rescue of a disabled man Friday morning.

Just before 6 a.m., Cowlitz County fire crews responded to the 200 block of South 9th Avenue on report of a house fire.

Flames were visible from the home's second floor with smoke out the front door.

Police officers then rescued a disabled elderly man found sitting on a couch in the living room, authorities said.

Because there were other residents still inside the home, crews upgraded the fire to second-alarm and more crews arrived on scene.

Crews had the fire controlled 20 minutes after the initial report and fully extinguished soon after.

Although most of the residents were able to escape, officials said one elderly woman was found dead outside of her bedroom in the back of the house.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.