Bainbridge Island house fire claims life of elderly woman

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. – An early morning house fire on the northwest part of Bainbridge Island has claimed the life of an elderly woman and injured her husband.

Firefighters were called to the home, on the 6500 block of NE Monte Vista Drive, just before 1 a.m. on Saturday Bainbridge Island Assistant Fire Chief Luke Carpenter said that when firefighters arrived, they found the fire had already spread to much of the home.

The male resident of the home had made it outside, but he said that his wife was still inside. The intensity of the fire prevented crews from getting inside, Carpenter said, and it wasn’t until 7 a.m. when they were able to get inside. The body of the woman, who was in her 80s, was then found.

Medics took the man to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and released. Carpenter said that he is staying with friends.

Investigators are expecting to be at the home for much of Saturday, but Carpenter said that the damage is severe enough that an exact cause may not ever be found.