Authorities identify woman killed in Florence apartment fire

Fremont County authorities have now been able to identify a person who died in a fire at a Florence apartment complex.

76-year-old Wanda Blackburn died in the early Saturday blaze. The results of an autopsy are pending.

The fire broke out just before 2 a.m. Saturday at the San Juan apartment complex in Florence off Highway 115.

“I saw lights so I came out to check. The whole complex was blocked off by police cars (and) ambulances,” said Nancy Hulick, a resident of the complex.

Freemont County sheriff’s deputies ran into the building to evacuate the people from their apartments.

“(There was) heavy, heavy smoke, when the officers opened the door to go in of the building. (In) the hallway they encountered heavy smoke (and) extreme heat,” said Chief Michael De Laurentis, of the Florence Police Department.

Two people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and one person was treated for minor burns from the heat.

Once the fire was under control, the Florence Fire Department found a female victim.

“That’s why they’re going through the steps they’re going through to eliminate any kind of suspicion,” De Laurentis said.

Neighbors say the woman who lived in the bottom apartment where the fire started was a good person.

“She was a really nice lady,” Hulick said.

The cause of the fire and the cause of death are still under investigation

“We’re sorry for the loss of any life. You know, right now, like I said the investigation is going to continue,” De Laurentis said.