A 57-year-old woman was presumed killed in a two-alarm blaze in Martic Township on Monday afternoon.

Margaret Eileen Kieley apparently died in the fire that destroyed her 2½-story farmhouse at 567 Marticville Road, Pequea, state police said.

The fire struck shortly after 2 p.m., but a body was not found in the fire's ruins until about 11:30 p.m., state police Fire Marshal Brian Herr said.

"That was the biggest question," he said. "We didn't know if anyone was in the home or not."

The victim died from smoke inhalation and thermal burns, police said.

Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni conducted an autopsy Tuesday but was awaiting dental records before making a final identification.

A neighbor discovered the fire and found "smoke coming from everywhere and fire coming out of the windows" on the western end of the first floor, police said.

Firefighters arriving at the scene could not enter the home to search for occupants, Herr said.

VIDEO: Firefighters respond to a blaze Monday afternoon along Marticville Road

The roof and all interior walls had collapsed into the basement, police said. Only the exterior brick walls remained when firefighters arrived.

At the height of the blaze, Rawlinsville Fire Chief Carl Strickler Jr. said, more than 100 firefighters were at the scene.

A track hoe was used to knock down the walls of the structure and also to excavate debris from the basement, police said.

Examination of the scene revealed that the fire originated in the west-central end of the structure, which is the area where the body was found, police said.

Kieley was believed to be the only person in the home at the time of the fire, Herr said.

The cause of the fire could not be determined because of the extensive damage, police said.

The fire caused an estimated $400,000 in damage, police said. The property, which is surrounded largely by farmland, is owned as an estate involving numerous brothers and sisters.

rrobinson@lnpnews.com