Thursday morning’s fatal fire was likely caused by an errant cigarette. Siuslaw Valley Fire Marshall Sean Barrett said the blaze that claimed the life of 73-year old Cassandra Hinkle started on an outside deck where she was known to sit and smoke. In fact, Hinkle’s caregiver said the last time she saw her charge was at two o’clock in the afternoon prior to the fire, sitting on a bench having a cigarette. Barrett said the fire spread and Hinkle’s cause of death, determined to be from smoke inhalation, are consistent with the likely cause.
