At 8:00 a.m. this morning, units from Lubbock Fire Rescue responded to 533 42nd for a reported structure fire in a duplex. Units arrived to find heavy fire in the A-side unit.
One victim had self rescued from that unit and there were reports of a second victim in that unit and crews entered for fire suppression and search. The victim was found in a back room and quickly removed from the structure and CPR begun. The victim, Cindy Tipton aged 67, was transported to UMC where she was later pronounced deceased.
The A-side of the structure suffered heavy fire and smoke damage and the B-side suffered some minor smoke damage. The utilities had to be disconnected from both units and Red Cross was called to assist the five adults being displaced from both units.
The Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate and ruled the fire unintentional caused by smoking in the presence of oxygen.
(News release from Lubbock Fire Rescue)
