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Seventy-Four Year Old Woman Dead In Benton County House Fire

LOWELL (KFSM) – Benton County fire crews battled a house fire Saturday (Sept. 13) morning that took the life of Carolyn Smallwood (74). Crews responded to...

LOWELL (KFSM) - Benton County fire crews battled a house fire Saturday (Sept. 13) morning that took the life of Carolyn Smallwood (74).

Crews responded to the incident on Pleasant Heights Road near Hickory Creek around 3:45 a.m. Benton County Fire Marshall Mark Trollinger said the fire was so intense when his crews responded that they were not able to get into the burning home for ten minutes. According to a news release, Smallwood's husband tried to rescue his wife but was unable to because of the smoke.

Trollinger said it did not appear the home had a working fire alarm. He said when firefighters responded they could not hear any alarm system. Officials said the blaze appeared to have started from the utility closet, although the origin has not been confirmed.

"They were asleep and smelled smoke and that’s what awoke them, and he saw fire in the utility room, so that’s kind of the focus of my investigation right now," Trollinger said.

He said the official results of the cause and origin of the fire will not be released until Monday or Tuesday. The victim's body was transported to Little Rock so dental records could be obtained for positive identification.

Randall Hammons lives across from the road from where the house was destroyed and said he estimated the flames were 20-30 feet high.

"It was above the tree line, and I mean our house is pretty big and we were at the top of the house looking out the window and you could see the flames at the top of the trees," Hammons said.

Officials said the home was completely destroyed. They said it is unknown if any animals were inside the house at the time. They said there were multiple animals outside the home and they have been placed with friends and family members.

Seventy-Four Year Old Woman Dead In Benton County House Fire

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