A Blount County woman is in critical condition after firefighters rescued her from her burning home Tuesday morning.
According to Sheriff James Lee Berrong, Shirley Ann Shields, 70, of Sevier Avenue, was initially transported to UT Medical Center for treatment but was transferred to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.
Firefighters from Blount County responded to the fire around 8:30 am. They found Shields lying on the floor in a hallway and carried her out.
The Blount County Fire Department activated its "Hot Team", which they utilize in situations where quick mutual aid is called for. The "Hot Team" consists of two firefighters from each fire department in Blount County.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
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Firefighters rescued a seventy-year-old woman from a house fire on the 2400 block of Old Knoxville Pike Tuesday morning.
Crews on scene tell 10News the call to dispatchers was made around 8:15 a.m.
Before rescue crews got there, two bystanders tried to help the women get out. One of them was a delivery drivery passing through the neighborhood. He stopped his truck and ran out to help.
"The smoke, the flames were just unbareable. I couldn't make it in any further. We heard the lady asking for help. The other gentleman pulled me away from the door. By that time the rescue and fire trucks were approaching the scene. And, of course, we had to move back from the scene," said Gary Duckett.
Firefighters were able to pull the elderly woman from the burning home. She was taken to UT Medical Center to be treated for smoke inhalation. There's no word on her current condition, and her name has not been released.