(WHAS11)-The small town of Scottsburg, Ind. is in shock after the home of long-time residents caught fire and claimed one life.
Neighbors said Bob and Frances Everett have lived in the home on highway 31 south, which they named "Redwood Gables," for the past several decades. Just around noon on Saturday a fire broke out in the home where the couple has spent much of their life.
Bob Everett died in the blaze and his widow Frances was taken University of Louisville Hospital.
Neighbors said during the cold winter months, smoke could almost always be seen billowing from the Everett's chimney, coming from their woodstove.
But the smoke they saw today was different.
Billy Henley ran across the street to help.
"I hurried up and put my shoes on and ran over there," Henley said. "The glass was melting. It was too late to do anything."
By the time he got there, Frances Everett had made it out.
"Her hair was all black. She had soot on her," Henley said.
The elderly couple's grandson and granddaughter also arrived, but by that time, the flames were too intense.
"I just felt like I wish I could do something, knowing he was in the house burning up," Henley said.
Family members watched helplessly as firefighters tried to bring the fire under control.
So they could eventually remove the body of Bob Everett.
"When I got there, it was impossible to make entry without protective clothing or an air pack," James Richey, Scott County fire chief, said.
Frances Everett was taken by helicopter to University of Louisville Hospital. Shockwaves shot out through Scottsburg.
"A small community like this, this close to Christmas, it's really bad," Rick Robbins, neighbor, said.
While it's still not clear what caused the fire, its effect sent a cold chill through Scottsburg, long before all the cinders were out.
"Actually, there's several firemen who knew the residents who lived there, so it's definitely a bad thing," Richey said.
The state fire marshal office was called in to investigate and results of the investigation are not yet available, but no foul play is suspected.
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