Abington house fire kills woman, 87

An 87-year-old Abington Township woman, Eris Connor, died yesterday morning in a house fire, police said.

Fire and police units responded to the 1500 block of North Hills Avenue about 11 a.m., where they found a two-story residence "heavily involved." John Teran, 59, reported that he had been unable to rescue the only other occupant of the home, Connor, his mother-in-law.

A passer-by on a bicycle attempted to reach Connor, who was on the second floor, but was driven back by flames, police said.

Teran was treated for injuries at Abington Hospital. The fire, which appeared to have started in the second-floor bedroom where Connor was trapped, is under investigation by Abington Fire Marshal Ken Clark, police said.

- Kathleen Brady Shea