CENTERTOWN, Ky. (WBKO) - A late-night house fire in Ohio County claimed the life of a 19-year-old woman Sunday.
Sheriff Adam Wright said deputies were dispatched around 11:13 p.m. after 911 callers reported a man banging on doors, saying he couldn't find his girlfriend. As deputies were en route, dispatchers received another call reporting a house fire.
"As deputies were coming into the community, they could see the glow and the smoke of the residence," Wright said.
The man told deputies his girlfriend was trapped inside the burning home and unable to escape. Two other people were outside when first responders arrived. They managed to get out but were unable to rescue the woman.
"Unfortunately, as time continued to go on and the fire continued to spread, we realized this rescue effort was going to turn into a recovery," Wright said.
Deputies worked with the homeowners to sketch a floorplan, and firefighters found the woman about an hour after arriving on the scene. She was discovered in a back bedroom and was identified as Kaitlyn Newton, 19, of Owensboro.
Wright said she likely died from smoke inhalation. The cause appears to be linked to a heated comforter in another part of the home.
The fire rekindled in several areas of the home Monday, bringing fire officials back to the scene.
Units from the Hartford and Centertown fire departments responded to the fire.