Edina House Fire Kills Mother Of 2
EDINA, Minn. (WCCO) -- Charred walls of a dining room and kitchen are telltale signs to fire investigators that this early morning fire was burning for quite awhile before help arrived. Neighbors spotted smoke around 4:45 a.m. and immediately called 911.
But before help arrived, 54-year-old Cynthia Robb was overcome by smoke inhalation and died just short of escaping through the front door.
"It looks like she was trying to get out and was not able to," said Edina Fire Chief Marty Scheerer.
Robb, the mother of two adult daughters, was home alone. Her husband and one of their daughters were out of town. The other daughter is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota.
"It's just horrible, things like this shouldn't happen, it's not right," said neighbor Jeff Holker. "They're a great family, dedicated to their community and great with their kids. Just wonderful people. Very sad, sad, sad day."
Investigators say while it is preliminary, it appears the fire started as the result of an electrical short in the basement ceiling. The intensity of the charred floor joists indicate it had been burning for more than an hour by the time help arrived.
"My dog was barking because of the smoke and because my neighbor was walking around. My neighbor banged on my front door and we were both out in the yard," said neighbor Dan Starkey. "Smoke was everywhere and there was a small flame underneath the front window."
Starkey said they live in a close-knit neighborhood where everybody knows everybody else. He said he saw Robb's body being taken out on a gurney.
"We were so hoping she was going to be OK," he said, adding that Robb was one of his wife's closest friends. "She was just a delightful person."
As grieving family members fell into the supportive arms of friends, investigators confirm that smoke detectors appear to have been working.
There were four detectors inside the home that was built in 1936. At least one of those detectors was on the second floor bedroom area and appeared to be chirping when investigators did their survey.
"Right now, (they're) chirping indicating a low battery mode," said Scheerer.
But what is less clear is why the shrill sound of an activated smoke detector was not enough to alert Robb -- giving the wife and mother of two enough time for a safe escape.
"It's very tragic news and another good example of why we like to have residential fire sprinklers in homes as well," said Scheerer.
Crews from Edina, Bloomington, Richfield, Hopkins, Eden Prairie and St. Louis Park were on the scene assisting.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Edgar Linares Reports
