A Forward Township woman was badlyburned Saturday when fi re destroyed this home on Eckstein Road. Joele Daugherty is in the burn unit at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh. The cause of the blaze is unknown.

FORWARD TWP — A 49-year-old woman was badly burned Saturday evening in a fast-moving house fire.

But the woman's husband is being credited with rescuing her from their burning house on Eckstein Road, authorities said.

Joelle Daugherty remains at West Penn Hospital's burn center in Pittsburgh. She suffered burns on 16 percent of her body, according to family members.

“She was burned on both arms, the upper back, on one leg and her hands,” Daugherty's mother, who did not give her name, said Monday.

The state police fire marshal is investigating the blaze that started about 7 p.m. but a cause will likely never be known due to the extent of damage, authorities said.

The fire, which was not believed to be suspicious, destroyed the house between Riebold and Rader School roads.

James Daugherty, 46, was working in the detached garage at his home when he initially smelled smoke. He apparently dismissed that as a Labor Day holiday camp fire nearby.

A short time later, he spotted the fire.

“He saw smoke pouring out the eaves in the windows that were open,” said Chris Hoffman, a lieutenant with the Evans City Volunteer Fire Department.

Daugherty immediately rushed to the house to reach his wife but he was unable to get through the door.

“He got a ladder to the window and dragged her out,” Hoffman said. But first, Daugherty had to break out the window frame to get inside.

A Butler Ambulance Service crew treated Joelle Daugherty before she was taken to a nearby field where a medical helicopter landed before flying her to the Pittsburgh hospital.

James Daugherty, who apparently was not injured, left the scene a short time later to be with his wife, authorities said.

Firefighters had the fire contained in about 45 minutes. The Daughertys' pet cat perished in the fire, authorities said.

Investigators estimated damage to the house and contents at $125,000.

Assisting the Evans City VFD were firefighters from Connoquenessing, Callery, Penn Township and Butler Township Fire District 3.

Joelle Daugherty, meanwhile, remained sedated Sunday night, her mother said. She will require skin grafts, physicians advised family.