FATAL FIRE: An apartment fire has claimed the life of a Des Moines woman, but investigators don't know how it started or when it happened | News

Police were called to the apartment on Hartford Avenue around 8:00 Wednesday morning. When they arrived they found 55-year old Debra Dillard lying on the floor. Police also noticed signs of a recent fire.

At this point firefighters say they believe the cause of the fire was accidental, but because of a number of unusual circumstances, and no witnesses, they are still treating it as suspicious. Authorities say the fire was contained to onlyDillard'sapartment. None of the other residents had any idea there was a fire.

Des Moines police said a family member called them to do a health and welfare check on Dillard. But when they got there, they noticed the smoke damage.

“What they could tell is there’s a lot of smoke damage just on that apartment, on the wall, on the wall, on the overhanging of the roof, around the windows and around the door so it was apparent to them,” said Sgt. Chris Scott.

The smoke damaged and charred apartment told them there was a fire, but there was no heat or smoke by the time they arrived. Fire department officials say they were surprised to see it extinguished itself. A

Authorities say it appeared Dillard moved between the time the fire started and the time it was out.

Fire fighters say there were smoke detectors in Dillard’s apartment but they weren’t active.

Family members told us they will always remember Debbie as a loving mother and grandmother and said she will be greatly missed by her friends and family.