Christmas Tree Fire Claims Woman’s Life
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ORANGE — A 69-year-old woman whose Christmas tree caught fire three weeks ago died Wednesday as a result of burns suffered in the blaze, coroner’s officials said.
Mona McKay died at 12:15 p.m. in the burn ward of UCI Medical Center in Orange, where she had been hospitalized since the Dec. 26 fire at her two-story duplex here, officials said.
McKay, a retired medical technician, suffered first- and second-degree burns over 15% of her body after trying to extinguish the blaze, which apparently was sparked by heat from decorative lights on her tinder-dry Christmas tree, fire officials said.
When she was unable to operate her fire extinguisher, she ran to the home of a neighbor, who called the Fire Department.
Neighbors restrained McKay from re-entering her home to rescue her dog and wrapped her in a blanket to keep her warm until paramedics arrived.
The fire caused about $120,000 in damage to the duplex on Foley Place, fire officials said.
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