Neighborhood matriarch dies in South Philadelphia blaze

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- An 82-year-old woman, known as the matriarch of her block, died in a fire that tore through her South Philadelphia home.

It happened around 10:00 p.m. Friday in the 2800 block of South Marshall Street.

"When I looked out my window and the whole house was engulfed in flames. I never seen anything like it," said Sarah Fortune.

Action News viewer Sean Kane snapped a photo of the flames as they shot in the air.

In 45 minutes, firefighters got the stubborn blaze under control after they vented the roof and the back of the home.

"It was a little harder because when they arrived on scene there was heavy fire and heat conditions. Fire was coming out of the windows of the first floor and second floor," said Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer.

"When I came out of the house, the house was in flames - shooting through the roof. I ran out into the street but there was nothing I could do," said John Pelzer.

Residents rushed to help but soon realized the worst - their beloved neighborhood matriarch 82-year-old Elizabeth Little, known affectionately as Miss Liz, never made it out alive.

Miss Liz was a fixture on this block, having raised three children and 10 grandchildren.

"I was thinking if she's in there, I didn't think she could survive that. She was a wonderful person. Everybody knew Miss Liz and everybody loved Miss Liz," said Fortune.

"She never said, 'No.' She didn't know the word, 'No.' Everything was, 'Yes! Yes!' She was always giving," said Loretta Bright.

No one else was home at the time.

Officials say a smoke detector was found in the basement but they are still working to determine the cause.