A fire Wednesday evening killed a Morrow County woman. 84-year-old Donna Cotton was found in her basement after firefighters finally got the fire under control at 5918 Canaan Township Road 60.
The fire is not being deemed suspicious, but authorities are still trying to understand what Cotton was doing in the basement, where the fire is believed to have started.
The fire was reported at 6:19 PM. Firefighters learned Cotton may have been in the house, but because of intense heat and flames, were unable to attempt a rescue.
Investigators believe the blaze started around an area near the basement and a breezeway. Cotton was found in the basement, where she had a washing machine and dryer as well as a pantry.
Investigators are waiting on the coroner’s preliminary autopsy report, including cause of death, according to Shane Cartmill the Public Information Officer for the State Fire Marshall.
This is the 140th fire fatality in Ohio in 2008. There were 129 fire fatalities in 2007.
