ST. PAUL (AP) -- Fire officials are investigating a Christmas Eve fire that apparently killed a St. Paul woman.
The name of the 35-year-old victim has not been released. Firefighters responding to a call at her Rice Street apartment said they found her underneath debris and furniture inside the top-floor apartment.
She was taken to Regions Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The cause of death has not been determined, but Deputy Fire Chief Mike Hogan said it was more likely the woman died from smoke inhalation than from burns.
The fire, which was reported about 7 p.m. Friday, was mostly contained to the woman's apartment and that no other units were seriously damaged. Authorities don't yet know what caused it.
Irene Kober, who runs a business in the building, said the woman who died was a struggling but gregarious artist.
``I can't believe it _ on Christmas Eve,'' Kober said.
