UPDATE: 12/2/2012 4:10 am

Shortly after 1:00 am Thursday morning, Parkersburg firefighters responded to a house fire on 6th Avenue in Parkersburg.

Fire crews arrived to find a single story wood frame house with heavy smoke showing and flames visible at a bedroom window.

The home's occupant, an elderly female, was exiting the house when firefighters arrived.

She was transported to Camden Clark Medical Center and is believed to be in critical condition.

Officer John Pelfrey, with the Parkersburg Police Department, assisted fire crews with the victim, while they worked to extinguish the blaze.

"The fire was able to be contained to a single bedroom, but the home had moderate smoke damage. Property damages are estimated at $10-15k.", Fire Chief Eric Taylor said.

Captain Tim Flinn ruled the fire as accidental and believes it to be smoking related.

"The occupant was alerted by working smoke detectors and able to escape," Taylor explained. "Ideally, we want everyone out of the house within 60-90 seconds. Smoke alarms are absolutely essential and give you that early warning."

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Emergency crews got to the 6th Avenue home in South Parkersburg around 1:15 a.m.

Officials with the Parkersburg Fire Department say it was the female homeowner that called it in. She was the only one inside at the time.

Firefighters say they found her outside the home when they arrived
She was immediately taken to the hospital.

There is no word yet on what caused the fire to break out, but it has been confirmed it was sparked in the bedroom.

Investigators are expected to stay on the scene for much of the morning while the cause is determined.

WTAP will update this story as more information becomes available.