JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. - Authorities say a woman has died after fire broke out at her upstate New York home, which firefighters say was piled to the ceiling with rubbish.

Officials tell the Press and Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton and WBNG-TV that the fire was reported around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at a home in Johnson City, just west of Binghamton.

Fire Chief Stephen Hrustich (her-UHS'-tihch) says that when firefighters tried to get in through the front door, they found it blocked by debris. He says items were piled 3 to 4 feet high in some places and to the ceiling in others.

Hrustich says it took about an hour to find the woman. He says she was in her 80s. Her name hasn't been released.

Fire officials say the cause of the blaze is under investigation.


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