By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

HAMERSVILLE - A 21-year-old Brown County woman died and her sister was injured trying to save her when their mobile home went up in flames early Monday.

Florence Lake was found dead in her bed, said Hamersville-Clark Township Fire Chief Dennis Schneider.

Elizabeth Lake, 22, was in critical condition Monday night at University Hospital with burns to her face, hands, arms and legs, authorities said.

The mobile home - in the rural village of Hamersville, population 515 - was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived about 1:20 a.m. Monday, Schneider said.

Elizabeth Lake got out of the home, then tried unsuccessfully to get back in to help her sister, Schneider said.

She then ran to her mother's mobile home next door to get help, he said.

"The girl that got out was burned pretty bad," Schneider said.

Florence Lake was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Tim McKinley.

The mobile home, 719 Wooster Ave., was a total loss. The Ohio Fire Marshal's Office is assisting in the investigation, and the blaze's cause remains undetermined, Schneider said.

Firefighters were at the scene for four hours.

E-mail daveck@fuse.net