An elderly Gainesville woman died Friday after her house caught fire the night before.
Lillian W. McDougle, 88, of 3818 NE 12th Street, suffered second- and third-degree burns to 90 percent of her body when she was caught in the house fire around 6 p.m. Thursday.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but it started in the attic before spreading to the living room and kitchen, said Gainesville Fire Rescue District Chief Jeff Lane.
Investigators do not suspect foul play.
Seven other people lived in the house with McDougle, but she was the only one home at the time. When emergency units arrived, McDougle sat in a white lawn chair at the edge of the driveway. She was taken to Shands at UF, GFR District Chief Richard Saulsberry said.
Firefighters at the scene contained the blaze to the living room and kitchen area. The inside of the house was destroyed, with black smoke marks on the outside walls, broken windows, chunks of plaster and a lone, charred, slatted door on the floor.
Damages from the fire were estimated at $80,000.
The residents - five adults and two children - watched firefighters fight the blaze and walked away in a huddle when they were told they would not be able to re-enter the house.
The incident is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal and Sandy Ellison of Gainesville Fire Rescue.
Breaking News Editor Jon Silman contributed to this report.
