Update: Elderly Berkeley woman critical after house fire

A Berkeley woman was rushed to the hospital Friday night after a house fire on Browning Street, according to preliminary reports.

"We smelled the strong smoke from our house … and had to close all the doors and windows, just before 9:45," a Scanner reader reported. "Smelled like burning plastic or other noxious stuff."

According to radio dispatches, the Berkeley Fire Department was sent to the 2400 block of Browning Street, between Dwight Way and Channing Way, at about 9:40 p.m. after someone called 911.

Firefighters were advised of an 80-year-old woman who "might still be inside the home," according to emergency dispatches. "She's going to need help getting out."

Arriving firefighters found a working fire at the two-story home, with smoke pouring from the structure.

They quickly began looking for the resident inside.

Crews described the structure as a "heavy content home" as they worked to put out the fire and release the smoke.

"Fire is knocked down, we still have some residual heat," a firefighter reported about 10 minutes after crews arrived.

The resident was in an ambulance on her way to Highland Hospital, the regional trauma center, by 9:50 p.m. She had "full body burns" and was receiving respiratory assistance, according to early reports.

The fire was under control as of 9:53 p.m., according to radio dispatches.

As of publication time, the Berkeley Fire Department remained at the scene, according to public records.

The Scanner will seek additional details and update this story if they become available.

Update, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2 p.m. The elderly woman hospitalized after Friday night's house fire in Berkeley was in critical condition Saturday, authorities report.

Firefighters rescued the woman from the burning home and took her to a local trauma facility.

Another resident was able to get outside safely, the Berkeley Fire Department said.

The 911 call for a possible microwave on fire in a home in the 2400 block of Browning Street came in at 9:35 p.m.

Crews were advised on the way that one person was still inside the home.

"Fire personnel arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming from a two-story residential structure. They entered the home and rescued an elderly woman while other fire personnel extinguished the fire," BFD said Saturday in a prepared statement.

The fire was confined to the kitchen and centered around a microwave oven.

"We do not know the full extent of the damage," said Deputy Fire Chief Keith May.

The American Red Cross was called to assist the second resident of the home, he said.