Woman Who Died In Newtown Grant House Fire Identified By Authorities

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Authorities have released the identity of the woman who died in Monday's house fire in Newtown Township.

Loretta Catozzi, 77, was found in a second floor bedroom at the Newtown Grant home around 4:30 a.m., the coroner's office confirmed.

The office has not yet released a cause of death pending an autopsy.

When Newtown Township Police arrived around 4:30 a.m. they reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the two-story town home in the 400 block of Mahogany Walk. They forced entry into the residence but were driven back by flames and smoke, police said.

Firefighters from Newtown Fire Rescue and neighboring fire services were called to the scene and immediately launched a search and rescue effort after learning that up to two people may be inside.

The firefighters found the woman in a second floor bedroom and quickly removed her from the building, but resuscitation efforts by emergency personnel at the scene were unsuccessful, fire officials said. She was later pronounced dead.

Firefighters battled the blaze with hose lines, placing it under control around 5 a.m. They remained on the scene for an extended period hitting hot spots and conducting overhaul operations.

Responding to the alarm call were Newtown Fire Rescue, Yardley-Makefield, Upper Makefield, Lingohocken, Northampton Township and Langhorne-Middletown.

Fire officials reported significant fire and smoke damage to the building.

The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by Newtown Emergency Services and by the Newtown Township Police Department.