Woman with husband in Iraq dies in fire

MILL CREEK, Wash. – A woman whose husband is serving in Iraq died in a fire at her apartment Sunday morning in this suburban city.

The woman, whose name and age have not been released, died in the Laurel Apartments on 164th Street Southeast, said Bill Wirtz, battalion chief at Snohomish County Fire District 7.

She was the wife of a man serving with the National Guard in Iraq, said Coni Conner, disaster services manager for the Everett branch of the Red Cross.

The Red Cross reached her husband’s National Guard unit Sunday to try to notify him of his wife’s death but did not reach him immediately.

The cause of her death has not been confirmed by the medical examiner, but Wirtz said officials believe smoke inhalation was responsible.

The woman was believed to be the only person living in the apartment when the fire broke out, police and fire officials said.

Fire officials say the fire was contained in one apartment. Three other units had water damage.

The cause of the fire was not known. Estimates of damage were not immediately available.