NEWTON, Mass. -- An elderly woman died and several others were hospitalized after a fire tore through a Newton duplex early Friday morning.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that three residents and two firefighters were taken to the hospital following the Ashmont Avenue blaze.

Officials said Dorothy Beatrice, 85, suffered cardiac arrest and was taken to the hospital, where she later died.

Her son, John Beatrice, 62, who is blind, was also taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, they said.

Two firefighters were treated for severe burns on their necks, backs and hands.

The fire chief said when crews arrived, the duplex was fully engaged.

"Firefighters were able to make their way to the second floor to rescue Mrs. Beatrice, but she went into cardiac arrest on us. We tried to hook her up to defib and transport her ... the blind son, we got him out. He suffered burns to his arms and hands. He's in Mass General, as well as the two firefighters that effected the rescue," Newton Fire Chief Joseph Lacroix said.

Six other people were living in the other side of the duplex. A girl, 13, was also treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The fire started in the living room of the front, first-floor duplex. It is unclear what started the blaze.

NewsCenter 5 and TheBostonChannel.com will have more details as they become available. Refresh this page for updates.