Honesdale house fire: 64-year-old woman's death ruled accidental

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·1 min read
Honesdale Fire Department battled the fire here at 655 West Park Street, early Thursday morning, June 22, where Kathleen A. Donahue perished in her life-long home. She was 64.
Honesdale Fire Department battled the fire here at 655 West Park Street, early Thursday morning, June 22, where Kathleen A. Donahue perished in her life-long home. She was 64.

Kathleen A. Donahue died from accidentally inhaling "products of combustion" due to thermal injuries in a house fire in Honesdale early Thursday morning, June 22, Wayne County Coroner Edward Howell reported.

A 911 call had been placed at about 1:50 a.m. when someone driving by saw smoke coming from the house at 655 West Park St. Honesdale Fire Department battled the fire for several hours.

Chief Steve Bates said that Seelyville Fire Department was called to assist. Cottage Hose and Damascus ambulance units were also on scene. Bates said that his department was on scene about 10 hours.

Donahue, who was 64, had lived there alone and resided there all her life, the report states. Bates said that the body was found once the fire was out and a more thorough search was undertaken during cleanup.

He said that overgrown foliage hides the house from the road, which made it hard to reach at night. It also required their apparatus to be set up on West Park Street (Route 6) while multiple hose lines were extended up the driveway. Both lanes were shut down at first.

The coroner's office was dispatched at 9 a.m. Howell pronounced her dead at 10:15 a.m. An autopsy was conducted on Saturday, and the results were released Monday. The coroner ruled the death as accidental.

Honesdale Borough Police and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

This is a view of the kitchen area at 655 West Park St., Honesdale after the structure fire, June 22 where resident Kathleen A. Donahue died as a result.
This is a view of the kitchen area at 655 West Park St., Honesdale after the structure fire, June 22 where resident Kathleen A. Donahue died as a result.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Investigation continues into cause of Honesdale fire that killed woman