Fire marshal: Cause of fatal Brockport fire 'undetermined'
By Elaine Haskins ehaskins@thecourierexpress.com
BROCKPORT, PA —
The cause of a July 17 fatal fire in Brockport has been classified as “undetermined,” according to Cpl. Greg A. Agosti of the Pennsylvania State Police.
The fire, which occurred at about 11 p.m. at 36 Howard Road, claimed the life of 50-year-old Terri Gustafson, who lived at the home.
“There has been no evidence discovered indicating the fire was the result of arson,” said Agosti, deputy fire marshal and supervisor of the Troop C state police fire marshal unit based in Ridgway.
“The cause is believed to be accidental,” he said.
According to Agosti, the fire originated on the second floor of the home near the stairway.
“The origin location prevented the victim from escaping via the stairway,” he said.
Gustafson’s mother, Donna Truesdale, 70, and her grandmother, Elizabeth Hetrick, 95, both of Brockport, were able to escape the home without injury, according to a previously published Courier Express article.
The fire had fully engulfed the home by the time firefighters arrived at the scene. Firefighters tried to gain access to the second floor of the home, where Gustafson was, but could not due to the heavy fire conditions.