Fire in Cypress Kills Woman, 85

An 85-year-old Cypress woman died early Sunday of smoke inhalation after fire broke out in her apartment kitchen, Orange County Fire Authority officials said.

Firefighters said they found Pearl Boeckler unconscious near the door of her apartment in a triplex in the 4100 block of Elizabeth Court. She was taken to Los Alamitos Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, Capt. Stephen Miller said.

“She was definitely trying to escape,” Miller said. “I think the heat and smoke were just too intense for her.”

Firefighters were called at 1:18 a.m. When they arrived at the apartment six minutes later, heavy smoke was streaming from the building. The majority of the fire damage was to a kitchen and adjoining bedroom, Miller said. The loss was $55,000 to structure and contents. No adjoining units were damaged and the fire was under control at 1:38 a.m., he said.

The blaze is considered accidental. It appears that the woman left a burner on her electric stove turned on. There was a melted coffee maker near the stove that may have also been on, Miller said.

Boeckler had been living alone since her husband died about six months ago, Miller said.