Fatal Fire in Tompkins County

A Tompkins County woman is dead following a fire December 28.

New York State Police responded to a home on North Applegate Road in the Town of Enfield at around 12:40 and found heavy flames and smoke coming from the house.

72-year-old Helen Freelove was found dead in the home once the fire was extinguished.

A neighbor had called 911 and had said they didn’t know if anyone was inside the house,

The first trooper at the scene tried to enter the home but was driven back by smoke and flames.

Enfield firefighters were joined at the scene by Trumansburg Fire Company, Mecklenburg Fire Company, Newfield Fire Company and the Ithaca Fire Department.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Authorities said Freelove had been taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton for an autopsy and the cause of death has not yet been determined.