Careless smoking listed as cause of fatal fire
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NIAGARA FALLS—A woman who died in a city fire Thursday in a Monteagle Ridge Estates townhouse was identified Friday, and careless smoking is believed to have caused the blaze, Fire Chief William MacKay said.
MacKay said thermal burns and toxic gas were the causes of death of Mary E. Trusello, 52, who lived alone in the two-story townhouse at 4600 Hyde Park Blvd.
He said Trusello was temporarily disabled by a broken leg.
“The fire appeared to be accidental,” MacKay said. It’s hard to say if the broken leg played a factor. We just don’t know.”
The fire was discovered at 6:22 p. m. by a neighbor who got no response after knocking on the front and back doors.
Published: June 06, 2009, 12:30 am