Elderly woman rescued from burning building

SALEM – Firefighters used a ladder to rescue a 66-year-old woman who was trapped on the third floor of her burning Jefferson Avenue home Tuesday, according to the Salem Fire Department.Rescuers under the command of Deputy Fire Chief Glen Beaudet were first to arrive on the scene at 12:19 p.m. and immediately activated a second alarm request for additional firefighters when faced with heavy smoke and fire.Several firefighters rushed into 204 Jefferson Ave. upon hearing that the unidentified woman was trapped on the third floor while other firefighters raised a ladder against a third floor window. Firefighters successfully helped the woman out of the window and onto the ladder before transporting her to Salem Hospital for evaluation.The woman told firefighters she was watching television on the third floor when the electricity went out. She noticed heavy smoke at the front stairs then went to the rear stairs where she said there was a high amount of heat. She said smoke detectors were going off.No one was injured and a cause of the fire has not yet been determined.The Lynn, Marblehead, Beverly, Peabody and Swampscott fire departments assisted Salem at the scene.