1 dead, 1 critically injured in SW Houston house fire

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Investigators are trying to figure out what sparked a fatal house fire in southwest Houston last night that killed an elderly woman and left a man badly hurt.

HFD responded to the house fire Friday night on Greenwillow Street near Woodvalley. The woman died at the scene and the man was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

Firefighters say the elderly couple were hoarders which made putting out the flames difficult. A witness who called 911 told Eyewitness News that he could barely open the door to the home.

HFD Captain Ruy Lozano said, "There were literally objects stacked above the door. So the crews really traveled through trails by good firefighting and good search-and-rescue techniques. The crew of tower 27 managed to see something, grab him. He was still breathing. (They) pulled him out."

No other details have been released.