Ark Valley News - Woman dies in house fire

Chief Mark Hephner tries to console Larry Gresham after Gresham learned his wife was killed in the fire.

Woman dies in house fire
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: January 15, 2015

A woman was killed in a house fire at 400 N. Hickory in Valley Center today (Jan. 9).

An investigator with the state fire marshal's office was on the scene to determine the cause of the blaze.

The woman was identified as 69-year-old Wilma "P.J." Gresham, wife of retired Valley Center police officer Larry Gresham.

Valley Center Fire Chief Lonnie Tormey said the fire was contained to the front bedroom on the second floor of the bi-level home. Firefighters went into the house while it was on fire and found the woman in a separate bedroom on the second floor.

Wilma Gresham's body was immediately removed from the house and crews extinguished the blaze.

A neighbor said Gresham had health issues, didn't leave the house much and used an oxygen tank.

Larry Gresham called 911 about 10:15 a.m. He had been on a walk in the neighborhood when he saw smoke coming from the house.

Before fire crews arrived, neighbors saw the smoke and tried to help. A 21-year-old woman, Sarah Butler, went into the house through the front door, but she couldn't make it past the first-floor landing before she had to turn around and leave because the smoke was so thick. She managed to rescue the family's cat on her way out.

Several members of Gresham's family gathered outside the house. They apparently wanted to enter the home after the fire was extinguished but had to wait until investigators completed their work.