A Montgomery woman is lucky to be alive after she escaped a fire that engulfed her home and caused it to collapse.

Police say the woman was home alone when the fire started around 2 a.m. on Beamer Road. She says she was awakened by noise and was able to escape before the 100-year-old home went up in flames and collapsed.

Crews were on the scene Wednesday afternoon with an excavator to move debris so firefighters could extinguish the smoldering hot spots.

The woman and her husband, who didn't want to speak about the fire, are staying with relatives.