Woman killed in apartment fire in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Officials say a 58-year-old woman was killed in an apartment fire in Philadelphia's Washington Square section.

When firefighters got to the scene they put up a ladder and climbed into the top apartment.

The fire broke out at a townhome in the 700 block of Lombard Street around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

There was a woman trapped inside.

Michael Knapp lives next door. He says although there's only minimal exterior damage, the inside of the home is torched.

He saw the inside and said, "I did not know there was one living room, the walls were all black. Obviously, it was doused with water. It was a mess in there."

Despite the effort from firefighters, the woman inside would be pronounced dead at the scene just before 10:00 a.m.

Neighbor James Ross said, "It's terrible. I'm sorry for her family."

James Ross says he lives just two doors down from where it happened.

He says he had no idea the fire was so bad when looking from the outside.

At this point there is no word from investigators on who the victim is or a cause.