78-year-old mother dies after rapidly spreading Atlanta house fire

ATLANTA - A 78-year-old woman who had to be rescued from a rapidly spreading fire at an Atlanta home has died from the injuries she sustained, according to Atlanta Fire Rescue.

Atlanta Fire was called to a home on Seventh Street NW near St. James Avenue at around 12:13 a.m. on Sunday.

Just four minutes after the call, firefighters said the blaze had already spread from the left side of the house to a car in the driveway and was making its way to a tree.

While part of the crew sprayed water on the fire, others burst into the home through a window to rescue the victim who was trapped inside. Her daughter identified her as Mamie Farley.

Mamie Farley (Photo submitted by family)

Farley was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

"This is so very heartbreaking just to see her house. I can't imagine," said neighbor J.M. Dawson. "I thought she made it, but she didn't."

"Every time I came by, I always asked her how she was doing, did she need anything, you know, as being a concerned neighbor because I always see her here, and she said she'd be good," Dawson continued. "Brought me to tears because this is very devastating. Not just as their mom, it's a neighbor, and it's close to our house."

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but arson investigators are reportedly involved in the investigation.