According to Washington County Coroner Rondale Brishaber, Patty Knight, 71, of Salem was the body found in the apartment fire at Parkview Apartments last Tuesday afternoon.

Brishaber said the cause of death was smoke inhalation. He was waiting to hear from the pathologist.

WSLM reported that a late afternoon two-alarm fire on Dec. 2 that damaged a four-plex apartment building in Parkview Apartments on Salem’s east side claimed the life of a resident. The fire was put out by 16 fire fighters, two engines and a ladder.

Day spent about two hours after the fire was extinguished with the Fire Marshall investigating the scene for a cause.

The fire broke out in unit 102, destroying the unit and damaging the other three units in the building. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Salem Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal. Day said the fire likely started in the living room/family room area. Day said fire was shooting out the front windows and door when firefighters arrived.

Day said today that more information on the cause of the fire will be released by the fire marshall.

One apartment was a total loss with an adjacent apartment receiving some smoke and water damage.  Two other apartments in the building received some minor smoke damage.

The department received the alarm at 4:40p Tuesday afternoon and responded to 817 Parkview Drive, Apartment 2 within minutes.

Members of the Salem Fire Department, Salem Police Department and EMS were on scene most of the afternoon.

Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control by about 6p, said Day.

“I have to credit the firefighters for doing a good job of keeping the fire contained to one apartment,” said Day late Tuesday night.

Stay tuned to WSLM RADIO and wslmradio.com for more details on Wednesday.