By Paula Horton – Mid Columbia Tri-City Herald

Fire investigators are still trying to figure out what sparked a blaze that killed an 83-year-old Richland woman.

So far they’ve concluded the fire started in Isabel Arnold’s bedroom late Sunday and was accidental, said Richland Fire Marshal Kurt Hubele. But the cause still is “undetermined” and it’s not clear if a definitive cause will ever be known, he said.

A lamp being pulled onto the bed is one possible cause. Fire Chief Grant Baynes said they’re also looking into whether an electrical problem is to blame.

“It’s a tough one,” Baynes said. “The area’s very clearly defined, but there are a couple of possibilities in there.”

The fire already had built up in the one-story home at 1004 Smith Ave. by the time it was reported at 11:37 p.m. Neighbors across the street heard the home’s smoke detector sounding and saw the fire glow.

When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting out the bedroom window. They were told someone was likely inside so one crew went in and quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire while another search crew looked for Arnold.

“It was just a matter of seconds and they found her,” Baynes said.

She was in the bathroom, which is just across the hall from the bedroom. The chief said she was likely trying to leave and just collapsed in the bathroom.

Medics immediately loaded her in the ambulance and rushed her to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland. The coroner said she had breathed in smoke and had first- and second-degree burns on about 35 percent of her body.

“Everything was done that could be done,” Baynes said. “… This was just a tragedy that she got caught in this fire.”

Seniors — those 64 and older — have one of the highest risks of dying in a home fire, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

In 2004, the most recent data available, seniors represented 12 percent of the U.S. population and accounted for nearly 32 percent of all fire deaths.

The risk goes up with age. People over 65 are twice as likely than the general population to die in a fire, and that number soars to 4.7 for those older than 84, according to the data.

“Older people are at a higher risk for many different reasons,” said Kathy Gerstner, the fire program specialist with the U.S. Fire Administration. “They often have disabilities … and they are more vulnerable to the injuries. The smoke and burns — it’s hard for them to recover.”

Fire safety officials say early alerts are key to surviving a fire.

The 972-square-foot home built in 1944 did have a working smoke detector in the hallway, but it’s not known if Arnold heard it right away.

Having a smoke alarm closer — officials now recommend one in every room — helps with early detection. People who have hearing problems can get smoke detectors with strobe lights to help catch their attention.

A fire suppression sprinkler system also can make a big difference, Gerstner said.

Gerstner also recommends having two ways out of each room in the house and practicing getting out, making sure windows open and windows, doors and hallways aren’t blocked by furniture.

“We don’t advocate practice jumping out of a second story window, but you should practice opening the window and knowing it would be possible to get out if you had to,” she said.

Good housekeeping — making sure there’s no tripping hazards on the floor — is also key because smoke can quickly fill a home and making it hard to see.

“The last thing you want to do is try to get out of the house and trip over something,” Chief Baynes said.

Preventing fires is the most important thing people can do, officials say. Using approved extension cords, making sure power strips aren’t overloaded, ensuring ovens and appliances are off before going to bed or leaving the home, and keeping flammable materials away from heaters are some simple prevention measures.

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