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First responders in Darby Township were called to the scene of a house fire on the 600 block of Sharon Avenue just after midnight on Sunday, Dec. 4, police said in a statement.
On arrival, firefighters saw flames coming from the porch and quickly engulfing the second story, officials said. A resident who escaped the blaze told firefighters that a disabled woman was still in the house on the first floor.
Emergency personnel were not able to reach her "due to the intensity of the fire and the smoke," they wrote. Her remains were found in the building after the fire was extinguished.
Investigators quickly determined the fire was caused by arson, police said. Detectives identified a male suspect and arrested him at 6 a.m. Sunday — just six hours after firefighters were called.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and the suspect remains in county lockup on "unrelated charges."
The department said it will not release the names of the victim and suspect "out of respect [...] for her family and the integrity of this ongoing investigation."
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and Darby Police Chief Mike Sousa are expected to give a press conference on the matter Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m.
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