A Penn Hills woman believed to have been smoking in bed died this morning when her bed caught fire and burned part of her house.

Patricia Ainsworth, 64, was found dead about five feet from the front door of her home in the 5700 block of Madison Road. Fire officials believe she died of smoke inhalation but are waiting for confirmation from the medical examiner's office, which is conducting an autopsy.

The fire was reported at about 4:20 a.m. and may have been burning for about a half hour before that. Ms. Ainsworth lived alone in the house and stayed on the first floor because of a medical condition. Her bed was in the living room, near the front windows, but she was unable to make it to safety.

Jack Mason, fire marshal in Penn Hills, is waiting for a final report by the Allegheny County fire marshal but said the evidence is consistent with the fire starting in the bed and spreading into the living room.

He said two neighbors tried to help and managed to kick in the door, but they couldn't get inside because of heavy smoke.

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