MADISONVILLE-A Monroe County woman has died from injuries she sustained when her house burned down Wednesday afternoon.

Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Chase Nipper said it was around 12:30 p.m. when he arrived at 243 Church Road in the southern part of the county and found several people fighting a house fire with buckets of water.

Nipper asked if anyone was trapped inside the house and was told the home's only occupant was in a truck parked at the end of the driveway.

Nipper said the house belonged to Hazel Ruth Dailey, 80, and she had suffered burns on both arms, her chest area, her head and on the right portion of her body. Nipper said she couldn't say much, but she did give him her name and date of birth.

Nipper said he talked with Perry Philpott who said it was around 12:20 p.m. when he saw thick smoke in the area and went to investigate. He said he saw Dailey's residence fully burning and saw Dailey standing in the doorway of the house.

Philpott said Dailey's clothes had been burned off and he put his jacket on her and put her in his truck.

A family member contacted The Advocate & Democrat and said Dailey had died overnight after the fire. She died from smoke inhalation surrounded by her family. The relative thanked everyone who helped fight the fire and especially to Philpott for the kindness he showed Dailey.

Firefighter Todd Torbett, in command at the scene, said the cause of the fire hadn't been determined yet, but the investigation was ongoing.

Notchey Creek, Mt. Vernon, Englewood and Tellico Plains volunteer fire departments, along with the Madisonville Fire Department all responded to the scene.

Dailey had been taken to Vanderbilt's burn treatment center and passed away around 9 .m. that night.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 442-4575