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Bellingham man tries to save sister in fatal fire

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A Bellingham man is in critical condition after trying to save his sister from a house fire early Wednesday morning.

Neighbors saw black smoke pouring out of the home in the 1200 block of Lincoln Boulevard  around 12:30 a.m.

According to neighbors, 60-year-old Larry Manning ran across the street and tried to get help, but he was badly burned and bleeding. He told neighbors he tried to reach his sister, 63-year-old Nancy Brink, who was in a back bedroom.

Emergency crews poured water on the home, but Brink was found dead inside.

Manning was taken to Harborview Medical Center and is still in critical condition.

"It was horrible.  You never want to think of your neighbor passing away that way," said neighbor Cindy Christman.

The fire is under investigation.

Neighbors told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Lee Stoll that Manning was devoted to his sister and moved in to live with her after her husband died two years ago.