Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle described the victim as a middle-aged woman who was the only resident of one unit of a mill house converted into a duplex on Main Street, located off Limestone Parkway.

The fire call to No. 7 Main St. came in at 7:33 p.m. Tuesday, Cagle said. Almost half the home was in flames when firefighters arrived within minutes, Cagle said. Firefighters entered the home and found the victim on the floor of a downstairs bedroom. She was dead at the scene. An autopsy was pending Tuesday night.

"It does appear her death was related to the fire," Cagle said.

The fire appeared to have started in the bedroom, Cagle said.

Officials were uncertain Tuesday night whether the home had working smoke detectors. Firefighters did not report hearing any, Cagle said.

A family of three or four who lived in the adjoining unit of the house were able to escape the fire.

Hall County sheriff’s officials were helping in the investigation. There was no indication of foul play, Maj. Jeff Strickland said.

The identity of the victim was not released Tuesday night pending notification of next of kin.

One firefighter was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with symptoms related to possible over-
exertion, but was expected to be released Tuesday night, Cagle said.

Firefighters continued to put water on hot spots in the smoking house at 11 p.m. Cagle said investigators would be working into the night to try to determine a cause.