April 4, 2020 7:40 a.m. (updated 1:50 p.m.)
A house fire claimed the life of a woman in the Wilbur area on Friday morning.
Battalion Chief Scott Richardson of Douglas County Fire District No. 2 said firefighters were called to a residence on Oak Hill Road north of Roseburg, just before 11:20 a.m. Upon arrival, they found thick smoke and heavy fire coming from the house. Richardson said crews were told by neighbors that an elderly woman was possibly still in the residence.
Richardson said firefighters quickly entered the house to conduct a search and to work to extinguish the fire. During that search, crews located the woman and determined that she was deceased. Firefighters continued to work to fully extinguish and overhaul the fire. The house sustained damage throughout the structure.
The victim has been identified as 83-year old Darlene Shaffer. One other adult that lives at the residence was not home during the fire and was later located. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office.
Fire District No. 2 sent 16 firefighters to the fire.