Orion Township Woman Dies In House Fire

ORION TOWNSHIP, MI — A 54-year Orion Township woman died early Thursday morning as the result of a house fire in the 800 block of Vernita Drive, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The county medical examiner said the woman died accidentally from smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire appears to be the disposal of cigarette butts into a plastic garbage can, county officials said.

Deputies responded to the home at approximately 3:13 a.m. and found the home to be fully engulfed in flames. Deputies were not able to check the home for occupants because of smoke, but did evacuate the neighboring homes as a precaution. While on scene, the homeowner and his son arrived and determined their wife and mother was still inside.

Orion Township firefighters later found the woman’s body in her bedroom. Deputies said there were no immediate signs of foul play. No other injuries were reported and no estimate of damage to the home was given.

Photo courtesy of the Orion Township Fire Department