One dead after fire in hoarder’s house

Fire crews using heavy equipment to remove piles of debris have discovered the body of a woman inside a house that burned early Friday morning in the Germantown section of the city.

The fire broke in a two-story row house out shortly after 1 a.m on the 5600 block of Bloyd Street.

Fire crews were not able to get access to the inside of the house, said Deputy Commissioner Jesse Wilson.

The fire was brought under control shortly before 2 a.m. Neighbors warned firefighters that a woman may have been inside the house.

City officials brought in heavy equipment, and began searching the property by punching a hole through the front of the house in the early afternoon on Friday.

Fire officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire.

Wilson said houses chocked full of possessions present a danger to firefighters and to occupants.

“There’s no means of escape,” Wilson said, “and there’s additional fire loading, which means more stuff that can burn.”