Woman dead after setting herself on fire, leaping from building

A Spokane woman jumped from her fourth-floor apartment window Wednesday after setting herself on fire in an apparent suicide.

The woman, who was not identified, was revived after the fall, but sustained multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital, authorities said.

Spokane Police Department detectives are investigating. However, it appears the woman barricaded her door, built a fire, then sat on it, Spokane Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Schaeffer confirmed. Once she was on fire, she jumped out a fourth-floor window of the Culmstock Arms.

The woman left a note indicating thoughts of suicide, authorities said.

Firefighters were first called to 328 W. Eighth Ave. on Wednesday on a report of fire, authorities said. The first to arrive found the woman lying on the ground next to the apartment complex being given CPR. The small blaze inside was quickly extinguished and contained to the woman’s unit.

Nancy Warren, the apartment manager’s wife, was one of the first to discover the woman lying unconscious. She immediately began administering CPR.

Firefighters took over resuscitation efforts when they arrived.

The woman moved into the apartment complex about six months ago, Warren said, and she “kept to herself.”