Woman, 61, Dies in Fire at 2-Story Duplex in Orange

Firefighters found the body of a disabled 61-year-old woman in a fire that caused about $250,000 in damage to a two-story duplex, a fire official said Wednesday.

Betty Royce died after her three-bedroom home in the 2500 block of Capri Street caught fire about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Battalion Chief Doug Mochizuki said.

She had been sleeping in a downstairs room where the fire apparently broke out, he said.

Investigators believe Royce tried to escape but died of smoke inhalation, Mochizuki said. Her body was found on the floor about 15 feet from the front door when firefighters arrived, he said.

She was living with her daughter, Cheryl Mock, 42, and a tenant who was not home at the time of the fire, Mochizuki said. Mock was in the garage looking for a book when the lights suddenly went out, he said.

“She went back into the house and saw a lot of fire and smoke,” he said. “She wasn’t able to get inside.”

The fire was controlled in 30 minutes by 31 firefighters from Orange and Anaheim, Mochizuki said. Investigators have not determine the cause of the blaze that charred about three-fourths of the duplex.