The State Fire Marshal”s Office is still trying to determine what caused a fatal fire earlier this month in western Oktibbeha County.
As of Wednesday, the fire”s cause still was “undetermined,” State Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Ricky Davis said. The Fire Marshal”s Office is waiting on test results to determine what caused the blaze, Davis said. Deputy Marshal Jonathan Owens is handling the case.
“We”re still waiting on a few things and then we hope to be able to establish a cause,” Owens said.
Fire broke out in a mobile home at 2040 Maben Sturgis Road Dec. 9 at about 6:30 a.m. Investigators believe the blaze began in the bedroom area.
The inside of the home was destroyed and its lone resident, 51-year-old Donna Barmore, died of smoke inhalation, according to Oktibbeha County Coroner Michael Hunt. Barmore was a volunteer with the American Red Cross and Oktibbeha Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Services.
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