FREEPORT (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- A 68-year-old woman named Donelda Madore died in a fire at her home on Wardtown Road in Freeport early Saturday morning, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Firefighters discovered her body near the stairs in the living room of the spilt-story ranch.
Fire Investigators believe she was overcome by heavy smoke as she tried to escape the home. Three others in the house escaped the fire uninjured.
Her husband, 69-year-old David Madore, woke up to find his house filled with smoke and reported it around 1 a.m., according to firefighters.
Madore and two other adults were able to escape, and Madore attempted to get back into the house to search for his wife, but was forced back by the smoke, according to firefighters.
Fire investigators believe the fire started in the attic. The roof was burned off the house, which also sustained heavy fire and smoke damage throughout.
According to Freeport Fire Chief Charlie Jordan, their daughter, and son-in-law were in the home at the time.
Freeport Police were the first to arrive on scene. Chief Jordan said an officer attempted to enter the home to reach the woman, but could not make it inside. That officer was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated after inhaling smoke.
The roof of the home collapsed during the blaze, and Chief Jordan said the home is a total loss.
At least six additional fire departments from surrounding towns joined Freeport Fire Department in an effort to extinguish the blaze, which took about six hours to do so.
An investigator from the State Fire Marshal's Office has been to the scene of the fire and an investigation into how the fire started in ongoing.
NEWS CENTER Maine will continue update this story as more information becomes available.
