According to Jacksonville Fire Chief Keith Fortner, an elderly woman died in a house fire early Sunday morning. Neighbors identified the victim as Lila Baty, who lived in the 700 block of Palestine Street.
Fortner said crews were called to the fire around 3:30 a.m. but Baty was not able to make it out of the home before the fire was contained.
Baty's next door neighbor, Jessica Tapia, said she awoke to the sound of cracking glass due to the heat.
"I was terrified when I woke up, I was looking out of the window thinking someone was robbing the home," said Tapia. "There's flames and I just panicked and got my family out of the house and ran across the street."
Tapia said she and her husband tried to help get the widower, who lived alone, out of the burning house using a spare key to Baty's home.
"You're fighting for your life and you're just hoping you can save somebody else's life," said Tapia. "My husband even got the hose trying to see what he could do by putting the fire out."
Tapia said their efforts were too late because the flames and smoke had already engulfed the home.
"[Baty] was just so polite, she always came out and said hi to us and was such a sweet lady," said Tapia. "We're going to miss her, I wish there were more neighbors like her."
Officials said the cause of the fire is under investigation.