71-year-old Sandpoint woman dies in apartment fire

SANDPOINT – A 71-year-old woman died in an apartment fire despite efforts to save her by her granddaughter, a neighbor and a firefighter.

Carilyn Weisz, who had limited mobility, died in the blaze, Police Chief Mark Lockwood said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Fire Chief Robert Tyler said it started in the living room and appeared to be accidental.

The fire was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Monday after neighbors noticed smoke and flames pouring out of the corner apartment. Onlookers said firefighters were on the scene in a matter of minutes.

Officials said Weisz’s 14-year-old granddaughter was showering in the apartment when the fire started. Lockwood said the girl tried unsuccessfully to get her grandmother out of the building. A next-door neighbor also ran from his apartment to try to save the woman, but he could not stand the intense heat and flames, witnesses said.

Sandpoint Firefighter Capt. Jake Hilton attempted a rescue, but flames burned through his heavy duty canvas coat, leaving him with first-degree burns on his arm, Tyler said.

The four-plex building, which Tyler said is about 15 years old, was not equipped with a sprinkler system because it was built before such requirements were in place. Investigators said the apartment’s smoke detector was working.

The neighbor, whose name was not released, was treated for smoke inhalation and released, officials said.