The fire that killed a Parkville woman Saturday night was caused by smoking, the Baltimore County Fire Department said Monday.
Baltimore County police on Monday identified the victim as Kim Konschak, 50.
“Apparently the victim was smoking and threw a cigarette butt into the trash, where it ignited,” fire department spokeswoman Elise Armacost said.
No foul play is suspected, she added.
Fire officials think the fire occurred sometime after 2 p.m. Friday, when her sister last talked to her.
Firefighters were called at 11:47 p.m. Saturday to investigate a possible fire and unconscious person at the Wendover Avenue address, and crews found Konshak on the floor near the door in a basement apartment, according to the Baltimore County Fire Department. The dwelling is a single-family home that was converted to three apartments. Firefighters determined that a fire in the basement had burnt itself out and that the apartment was covered with soot, officials said.
Armacost said the fire burned out by itself after all the oxygen in the tightly sealed apartment was used up.
Konshak?s sister told investigators that after trying to contact her sister since 11 a.m. Saturday, she visited the apartment and found her sister on the floor, officials said.
