LEBANON, Ind. — Police say a 74-year-old woman was found dead in an apartment that had caught fire, killing several pets in Lebanon on Monday evening.
Firefighters were dispatched to a report of cardiac arrest in the 1800 block of Sprucewood Drive in the Canterbury Apartments around 7:15 p.m.
An officer went to the apartment door and as he opened it, smoke began rolling out. After neighboring apartments had been evacuated, firefighters went into the building and determined there had been a fire, but it was out.
Susan Hayes, 74, was found dead in the apartment. An autopsy later confirmed she had died from a medical emergency prior to the fire. The Boone County Coroner's Office said the fire didn't contribute to her death and foul play isn't suspected.
Several cats and a dog died in the fire, authorities said.
Fire investigators said the fire was likely started by smoking materials, but didn't go into further detail other than to say all other ignition sources were ruled out through "thorough examination and processing of the scene."
