A 90-year-old woman is in critical condition after an overnight house fire in St. Petersburg.
The fire broke out just after 3 a.m. at 1719 19th Avenue South. Firefighters said there was heavy smoke and flames coming from the home when they arrived.
Crews were able to put the fire out in a short amount of time.
Four people were in the home at the time of the fire, but three of them were able to escape.
The 90-year-old woman, identified by a grandson as Annie Mae Watson, was rescued by a neighbor from her bedroom. She suffered second and third-degree burns to her face and torso.
Watson’s daughter, Debra Ann Swain Smith, was in the house when the fire started. She said the flames were so hot she couldn’t get to her mother from the inside. So she went outside broke out the windows and tried to spray water into the room.
“I said the oxygen is in there,” she said. We’ve got to keep the fire off mama and keep the oxygen tank cool. I tried. God knows I tried.”
Watson's grandson said his grandmother's 91st birthday is Wednesday. She was flown to Tampa General Hospital for treatment to her burns.
Doris Swain, Watson’s granddaughter, said her grandmother is a woman of faith.
In fact, one of the few things to survive the fire was Watson's Bible, which she read every day.
“I know she’s a strong grandmother,” she said.
Watson had lived in the home for more than 40 years.
The fire has been ruled accidental.