Sahuarita woman, 61, dies in fire

An 61-year-old woman was killed and her 66-year-old husband was injured when their Sahuarita mobile home caught fire Thursday morning.

They called 9-1-1 at 6:37 a.m. from their residence at 16111 Tatanka Lane, said Deputy Dawn Hanke, spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Two passers-by noticed flames and smoke coming from the mobile home, pulled the man and woman out and began administering CPR.

The woman, Helen Thomas, was pronounced dead at the scene, and her husband, Gary Thomas, was flown to the Maricopa County Hospital burn unit with life-threatening injuries. Two dogs also died in the fire.

Gary Thomas is a retired Pima County Sheriff's deputy. He worked 21 years for the department.

Fire department crews from Rural/Metro, Corona de Tucson, Rincon Valley and Green Valley responded to the scene.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Names will not be released until the victim’s family is notified.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726