Landlady, 69, dies days after fire

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A 69-year-old woman who was critically burned in a Feb. 5 home fire died Feb.8.
 
Bette Ann Carlson, was rescued from the fire at her home near the intersection of Livingston Avenue and Trowbridge Street NE.

She was rushed to the hospital and died a few days later.

Calvin Johnson, her upstairs neighbor for about 13 years, told 24 Hour News 8 he tried to call Carlson and knocked on her door after he smelled smoke Tuesday night.  

"I was at home taking a shower and I started smelling smoke and like flesh, human flesh, and I had a friend over and she said, 'Do you smell that smoke?'" recalled Johnson. "I ran down the stairs, banged on the door, didn't get any response, then I ran back up the stairs and called 911."

"It was very horrifying," said Johnson. "Very horrifying. Scaredest I've ever been."

He said he had just talked to Carlson about a half hour before he smelled the smoke, so he knew she was home.

Carlson is survived by sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorial contributions may be made to the Spectrum Health Foundation, 100 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 for the Spectrum Burn Unit.