By Jennifer Parks
The Albany Herald
ALBANY, Ga. — Albany Fire Department officials said Monday a fire over the weekend resulted in one fatality and a firefighter injury. The precise cause of death remains under investigation.
Shift reports available from AFD show firefighters responded to 139 Swift St. just before 9 p.m. on Saturday. When firefighters entered the home, they found an elderly woman who had expired.
Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler and AFD Arson Investigator Sam Harris were among those notified of the incident, the report said.
AFD Deputy Chief Sebon Burns said the home was 60 percent involved when firefighters arrived, and that the woman was found in a room in the northwest corner of the home.
Burns said the women was identified as Minnie Nixon, 87. The cause of death was undetermined Monday, pending the results of an autopsy, but the two most likely causes are either smoke inhalation or burn injury, Burns said.
AFD officials said further investigation into the blaze determined that a spark from a home fire caught the wood frame of the fireplace, causing flames to make their way through the house.
The fire, which took until approximately 10:30 p.m. to get under control, resulted in $20,000 in property loss, the shift report said.
BREAKING: Woman dies in Albany fire, firefighter injured - https://t.co/7y7olw3Xf5 pic.twitter.com/yviYRc78DV
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Burns identified the injured firefighter as Lt. Jason Ribolla, who was sent to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital for treatment.
The report said a nearby structure was damaged when radiated heat from the fire melted a portion of its exterior vinyl siding, causing a $2,000 property loss.
Copyright 2016 The Albany Herald