88-year-old Bradley County woman dies trying to save pets in house fire

Fire tile
Fire tile

An 88-year-old Bradley County woman who ran back into her burning house to apparently save her pets, died Wednesday.

Anna Matthews was cooking chicken Friday afternoon when a fire broke out in her home at 765 Hancock Road in Cleveland. She ran outside and called 911, then neighbors told dispatchers they saw Matthews go back into the burning house.

"We found her in the hallway, performed CPR, got a pulse, and she was transported to the hospital," Troy Maney, chief of Bradley County Fire and Rescue, said.

Maney said Matthews was initially taken to Skyridge Medical Center, then transported to a burn unit in Marietta, Ga. He said the smoke inhalation she sustained required her to be put on a ventilator, which she was taken off of Sunday. She died Wednesday morning.

Maney said Matthews' husband, who lived with her, wasn't home at the time. He said two cats died in the fire, but a cat and a dog were saved.

Maney said he hoped people would learn from the tragedy.

"I know people love their pets," Maney said, "but she had made it out. She was outside. Once you get out, stay out."

photo An 88-year-old woman is being treated for severe smoke inhalation after a fire at her house in Bradley County.

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