Firefighters find elderly woman dead in home after fire | News

RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WIS) - Investigators are looking into the cause of a house fire that killed an elderly woman early Wednesday morning. 

Deputies and firefighters were called to the house on Morninglo Lane at about 1:30 a.m.

Investigators said they found the woman's body inside the home.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said the victim died on the scene
and an autopsy performed showed that the victim died from smoke
inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning from the fire.

Although a tentative
identification has been made, the name of the victim is being withheld until
x-ray comparisons and a positive identification is determined, Watts said.

A spokesperson with the sheriff's department says the cause of the fire appears to be accidental.

The cause of the fire is
being investigated by the Richland County Sheriff and the Richland County Fire
Marshall.

Watts said people should have operational smoke detectors in their
homes, and to be cautious of where space heaters are placed, making sure they stay
a safe distance from any items that might catch on fire.

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