Woman, man dead in apartment fire identified

The woman who died Wednesday in a north Spokane apartment fire was 61-year-old Georgia J. Eshom, the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s office said.

Also killed in the fire was Robert C. Guillemette, 57, who shared an apartment with Eshom. Both died from smoke inhalation, the medical examiner said.

A fire at the Rosewood Club Apartments at 401 E. Magnesium Road began Wednesday afternoon in their apartment and quickly spread to other units in the building, displacing a number of residents.

A Spokane firefighter sustained third-degree burns trying to pull Guillemette’s body from the apartment. The Spokane firefighters union said on Facebook Friday that the firefighter, Charles McKenzie, has a “challenging recovery” ahead but is expected to be OK.

Fire officials said Thursday the fire was accidental and appeared to have been caused either by smoking or an overloaded power strip.

Eshom was wheelchair-bound, Spokane Fire Assistant Chief Brian Schaeffer said Thursday, which may have prevented her from escaping. Schaeffer said Thursday he wasn’t sure if or how Eshom and Guillemette were related.