Woman, 68, killed in fire at senior living facility in South Strabane Township

SOUTH STABANE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A woman is dead after a fire broke out at a Washington County senior living facility early Wednesday.

The fire started at 7:45 a.m. at the Thomas Campbell apartments, four years after another deadly fire.

According to its website, the Thomas Campbell Apartments is a senior living facility for people ages 62 and up.

A 68-year-old woman, identified as Kim Haines, was found dead inside the unit. Police said she was alone when the fire started.

Early reports indicate that Haines was smoking and using an oxygen tank in her bedroom. The fire chief tells Channel 11 that thanks to state-of-the-art equipment they knew exactly where the fire started and got straight to that apartment within minutes.

“We were notified within seconds there was smoke in that apartment, and we knew exactly which apartment. In the past, we’ve gone to buildings like this and all we know is there’s a fire alarm activated in a 7-story building,” said chief Jordan Cramer.

Cramer explained that the apartment complex installed $1 million in safety equipment after the previous fatal fire. He said a quick-thinking maintenance worker grabbed a fire extinguisher and was there in less than two minutes.

“This building has a state-of-the-art fire alarm and sprinkler system. He was able to look at a panel that told him the exact unit the fire was in and he responded to it in about 90 seconds and was able to empty a fire extinguisher,” Cramer said.

After the fire in 2021, about fifty residents were displaced. This fire only affected one other apartment with water damage.

“It did what it was supposed to do and because of that so many lives were saved today, and it’s a blessing they were able to install that system,” said Helen McCartney, whose mother lives in the complex. “My heart breaks for the family who lost their loved one today, may God be with them.”

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