Smoking coupled with the use of medical oxygen sparked the fire that led to a woman’s death in a east Vancouver house fire Sunday night, according to the Vancouver Fire Marshal’s Office.
The fire was reported at 10:12 p.m. at a single-story home in the 800 block of Southeast 122nd Avenue, according to the Vancouver Fire Department. Crews arrived within five minutes to see smoke pouring from the back of the residence, the department said. After being told there could be someone still inside, firefighters attacked the fire and began a search in the still-burning house, the department said.
Firefighters removed the woman from the house, and crews began performing CPR and administering other advanced cardiac life support. The department said resuscitation efforts were halted after consultation with emergency room physicians at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.
Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli said the woman was identified as Angela Ann Hartford, 45.
Two other women inside were able to escape, along with three dogs, Scarpelli said.
The Red Cross arrived to assist the displaced.
Crews extinguished the fire in 20 minutes, and investigators from the fire marshal’s office were called in to investigate.
