Douglass Woman Perishes in Early Morning Fire

A house fire has tragically claimed the life of a Douglass woman that has been identified as Bea Ellen Rich, 75. 

According to a release from the Nacogdoches Sheriff's Department, firefighters and sheriff deputies were dispatched to County Road 845 in reference to a house fire that was fully engulfed shortly after 5 A.M. Monday morning. The fire was called in by a neighbor that was awakened due to the noise of the fire. The neighbor drove to the residence and observed that the house was fully engulfed and called 911.

Douglass VFD, Lilbert-Looneyville VFD and Nacogdoches Fire Departments responded to the scene.  Officers were made aware that a female lived inside the residence and was possibly still inside the residence. Firefighters battled the fire to extinguish it as quickly as possible, but the fire was too far involved when firefighters arrived.

A search of the residence was conducted when the fire was extinguished and the victim was found inside. Detectives with the Nacogdoches Sheriff's Office and the Nacogdoches Fire Marshall were called to the scene. Investigators believe that the fire started in the bathroom area of the residence, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Foul play is not expected at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.

An autopsy has also been ordered.