The badly burned body of a woman was found by Anne Arundel County firefighters yesterday as they extinguished a blaze in a Severn home.

The fire at a house in the 8200 block of New Cut Road was reported about 10 a.m. It was contained within half an hour, said Lt. Frank Fennell, a Fire Department spokesman.

Fennell said the victim suffered severe burns. The body was taken to the state medical examiner's for an autopsy and identification.

The lone occupant of the house was a woman, and attempts were being made to contact relatives.

Firefighters found the victim dead in a bedroom where investigators believe the fire started, Fennell said, adding that the cause remained under investigation.