JT fire victim's condition is critical

A woman burned in a house fire early Wednesday morning remains in critical condition at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, hospital staff said Thursday morning.

Corrine "Corrie" Miller of 306 South Ave., was rescued from her burning home by a firefighter and a neighbor. Carbon County Communications Center had received a call, believed to be from Miller, at 3:30 a.m. that the house was on fire and she could not get out. The two-and-a-half-story half-double home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

The fire destroyed Miller's home and the connecting home, and heavily damaged two adjacent homes. Firefighters had to contend with a heavy, wet snowfall and wind in addition to downed electrical lines as they battled the blaze.

Jim Thorpe Fire Chief William Diehm said he would seek the help of a state fire marshal to determine the cause of the blaze.

Miller, who was disabled, lived by herself on the first floor of the home, according to published reports. She had retired several years ago from her position as a guidance counselor at the Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Jim Thorpe.