On Monday night, Nov. 25th, 2024, at around midnight, neighbors reported smoke emanating from a house on the fork of Darnestown Rd. and White’s Ferry Rd. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded quickly but were challenged by heavy fire and “excessive storage conditions”, per MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

Helen White lived alone with a long-haired cat and a Siberian Husky, Happy, who was rescued. Throughout her lifetime, White worked closely with local rescues and helped nurse animals back to health. Several of White’s neighbors expressed their grief and shared fond memories of the animal lover. Many community members felt her generosity and kindness, and her presence will be missed.

According to WUSA9, White’s neighbors called the fire department after witnessing heavy smoke from the single-family home. Firefighters showed up around midnight. Neighbors insisted that someone was stuck in the house, causing firefighters to venture inside although they were obstructed by clutter. They found White on the second floor, and she was pronounced dead on the scene.

According to MCFRS spokesperson David Pasos, the fire was settled at around 4:50 AM due to the work of close to 75 firefighters. The damage to the home, estimated to be around $300,000, and icy roads caused by the water used to put out the fire caused portions of both streets to close, detouring traffic. This also affected Poolesville buses, causing students to arrive at school later than usual.