SAGINAW COUNTY, Mich. -- A bedridden elderly woman died after being trapped inside a burning home in Carrollton Township Thursday morning, according to fire officials.

The woman was trapped inside the property on Bauer Drive, near Oakview when the fire erupted just before 11 a.m.

Fire officials said the woman’s disability was likely a major factor in her inability to get out of the home.

“She was a very sweet lady; she was from England,” said a neighbor. “Whenever I had a garage sale, she’d always come and buy things.”

The victim's husband was able to escape the burning house. It’s unknown at this time if he suffered any injuries.

Fire investigators were at the scene trying to determine what caused the fire to start.

Fire officials said the home appears to be a complete loss and the Red Cross is pitching in to help get the victim's husband back on his feet.

In 2007, some 3,000 people died in house fires across the U.S. In 2006, the latest year for which the numbers are available, 121 people died in Michigan house fires.

While the cause of this fire is still unclear, most deadly fires in the U.S. are caused by smoking.