An early morning house fire Tuesday near Robbins left a woman dead and her husband clinging to life.

Shelly Smith, 69, died at the scene. Her husband, R.G. Smith, 63, was flown to Duke University Hospital apparently suffering from smoke inhalation, according to Capt. Jeff Medlin of the Moore County Sheriff's Depart-ment.

The Robbins Fire Department responded to a 911 call about 5 a.m. to the Smith's home at 8289 N.C. Highway 705, Eagle Springs. The residence is just south of Robbins Crossing at the intersection of N.C. 24/27 with N.C. 705 and is in the Robbins fire district, though the address is in Eagle Springs.

"There was a 911 call from the residence," Medlin said. "The fire appears possibly electrical in origin, but the investigation is still under way."

Flames were coming from the south end of the house, and heavy smoke was coming from the eve on the north side, according to a report from the Sheriff's Department. A sheriff's deputy who responded, along with another man, knocked on the doors and windows trying to make contact with anyone inside the house, the report said.

Both victims were found in a front room. Robbins firefighter Bradley Maness was the first to get inside the burning home. He found R.G. Smith lying in a fetal position with his back against the front door, according to the report.

Maness and Robbins firefighter Justin Garner pulled the man from the home. Rescue workers began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and got a pulse, the report said.

After the fire was extinguished, Shelly Smith was found in a chair in the living room. She was dead.

Firefighters from Carthage and High Falls also responded. At least seven tanker/pumper trucks and about 30 firefighters were on the scene. They quickly brought the fire under control.

In Moore County, the county fire marshal and sheriff's deputies respond to fires along with fire departments and emergency personnel.

Smith was a well-known auctioneer, licensed since 1984. In 1997, he and his wife Shelly opened their own auction business, Smith Auctions.

Contact John Chappell at 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.