Woman died in Chevy Chase house fire trying to save cats

Fire officials in Montgomery County, Maryland, say they believe a woman who died in a Chevy Chase house fire went back in to save her cats.

Police and firefighters found Karen Carstens, 55, suffering from life-threatening injuries inside her home on the 4700 block of Merivale Road as they responded to the fire at 5:43 a.m. Friday, the Montgomery County Police Department said Monday.

Ms. Carstens died after being rushed to a local hospital.

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service spokesman Pete Piringer said on social media that the home did not have working smoke alarms, adding that while both occupants initially left the house, “one reentered, likely looking for cats.”

One of the cats died while the other survived, Mr. Piringer said. In addition, the other occupant of the house, the brother of Ms. Carstens, survived with injuries, according to Washington’s WTOP-FM.

The police and fire department are continuing to investigate the fire and the death of Ms. Carstens. 

Mr. Piringer said the fire started in the garage, and that while the exact source of the initial ignition is unknown, “several batteries & hobby-related electronics were found in area.”