The fire engulfed the home. A young woman spotted the smoke and flames on her way to work.

"We did have a passerby that stopped, saw the fire, and didn't have a cell phone, so started honking their horn, got the attention on the opposite sides of this house, and those individuals called 911," said Springfield Assistant Fire Chief Randy Villines.

The woman also went knocking on doors to warn neighbors, worried a truck in front of the house could explode.

"I woke up to a knock on the door, and looked out and saw the flames shooting out of the house, and it engulfed the tree," said neighbor Shirlee Plum.

Neighbors ran to help the three women in the burning home. The fire department says Stevens ran out the front door and then ran in the back door to rescue her mother, but couldn't save her sister.

"She said there was somebody in there," said neighbor Larry Plum.

With firefighters not yet on scene, Larry ran to see if he could help.

"I went over on that side and I couldn't get in the side window. I couldn't get in the back door. The smoke and the fire was so bad, and I just thought, 'Man, this is just way beyond my control.'"

Firefighters arrived soon after but it was too late for Cathy Hardison.

"It's very sad, very hard to watch," said Shirlee Plum.

Investigators say an overloaded extension cord sparked the fire. It was wound up and tucked under a couch, hooked to a space heater. The cord was covered with clothing and paper material, the fire department said. The fire damage is estimated at $50,000.

All had hoped for a better outcome but neighbors wonder if the quick action of the passerby may have kept the tragedy from being even more heart-wrenching.

"She deserves to be commended for what she did," said Shirlee.

On Monday, the fire department said Virginia Hardison was in critical condition at a hospital with second-degree burns on 30 percent of her body. Assistant Fire Chief Randy Villines said Cathy Hardison likely died of smoke inhalation but an autopsy will be done to know for sure.