Balboa Fire Kills Woman
A 57-year-old woman was found dead in her bed early Monday after a fire swept through the maid’s quarters of a Balboa Island home, authorities said.
The woman, Law Kwui Ching, was a housekeeper who occupied separate living quarters in a home at 608 S. Bay Front, Newport Beach fire officials said. The owners of the house live in Los Angeles and were not at the home when the fire occurred, about 5 a.m.
Investigators said the blaze appeared to have started accidently, caused by either cooking utensils or candles. Damage to the home was estimated at $140,000, mostly from smoke.
Dr. Daniel Stringer, who lives across the street from the residence, said he was awakened by the screams of a neighbor who saw the flames. Stinger said Ching had come from Hong Kong about 20 years ago.
Although a cause of death has not been determined, authorities said it is likely she died of smoke inhalation.
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