Woman, 85, dies in house fire

An 85-year-old West Oak Lane woman died yesterday afternoon in a brief but deadly fire at her home on Forrest Avenue near Walnut Lane, officials said.

Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said that Evelyn Stohlman was found dead on a couch in the living room of her rowhouse by firefighters who had gotten there within minutes after neighbors smelled smoke and rang the alarm about 3:30 p.m.

Ayers said that the victim's daughter Jocelyn Powell, who lived with her mother, had gone out to the store and returned to find firefighters at the home.

The fire marshal was investigating the cause of the blaze.

Ayers said that the Fire Department had previously installed smoke alarms for the women and that the devices were operable.

He said yesterday's was the 28th fire death this year, compared with 26 at this time last year.

Ayers worried that fire deaths could increase with the holiday and heating seasons coming up.

Anyone seeking information on how to obtain a smoke detector through the Fire Department can learn about it by going to www. freedomfromfire. com.

- Gloria Campisi