Staff Photo by Angela Lewis/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Dec 30, 2010--FIre and police personnel work Thursday afternoon at the scene of a fatal fire on Arkwright Drive in Lupton City.A fire at 3962 Arkwright Drive claimed the life of an 81-year-old woman Thursday afternoon.
Chattanooga Police Department Capt. Phillip Hyman said Ruby Harrison was found dead in her kitchen after firefighters responded to a fire at her home in the Lupton City neighborhood.
Hyman said firefighters found heavy smoke in the front of the home and a fire in the back.
"The blaze was quickly under control," Hyman said. "However a female victim was located in the kitchen area and had succumbed to the fire."
Hyman said the fire started in the back bedroom. He said it appears Harrison was trying to put the fire out when she succumbed to smoke.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene just before 1 p.m. They worked into the night helping Harrison's family retrieve personal items from inside.
Family members at the scene said Harrison lived alone in the home.
Harrison's granddaughter Amy Finlayson said her mother, Joann Hooks, was on her way to visit Harrison when she got a phone call from a neighbor saying the house was on fire.
"She lived in the same home for 53 years," Finlayson said, adding Harrison had a birthday on Dec. 18.
Several family members stood outside the home Thursday afternoon following the fire waiting for firefighters to finish their work.
Firefighters said the cause of the fire was not clear Thursday evening.
Contact staff writer Jeremy Belk at jbelk@timesfreepress.com or call 423-757-6345.