Woman found dead after home's first floor collapses into basement in West Mount Airy

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- An investigation is underway after a woman's body was found inside a partially collapsed home.

The discovery was made Monday afternoon in the West Mount Airy section of Philadelphia.

Firefighters were called to the scene of the collapse in the 7100 block of Mount Airy Place around 12:30 p.m.

Fire officials say neighbors noticed something wasn't right inside the home and called it in, concerned about the woman who lived there alone.

Crews found a woman, believed to be a senior citizen, inside the home. Her name has not been released.

Firefighters say the first floor collapsed into the basement, and the woman's body was found in the debris.

Chopper 6 was over the home as firefighters went in and out of the back of the house. Beams were brought in to stabilize the house to make it safe for first responders.

"We had to shore up the floors in the structure to make it safe so we could go in. Once we got inside we conducted an interior investigation. Unfortunately, we did find an elderly female victim that had succumbed to the collapse," said Asst. Chief Charles Walker of the Philadelphia Fire Dept.

It's not clear when the woman died, nor is it clear when the collapse happened.

Walker says crews believe the woman lived in that home alone.

Neighbor James Williams says he reported the condition of the home to the city a year and a half ago.

"I saw her roof, I saw squirrels going in the side of the roof, I saw the snow and water going in there. So I just called through 311 and reported that her roof was in disrepair," Williams said.