Woman, 44, killed in Palmer fire

By Anne Baker, Globe Correspondent

A 44-year-old woman was killed in Palmer early this morning when a three-alarm fire tore through an apartment building, according to police and fire officials.

The blaze started at 1:15 a.m. in a four-unit building at 29 Commercial Street, according to a press release issued by the Palmer Police Department. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Police identified the victim as Theresa M. Francis. Investigators are trying to determine whether a space heater ignited draperies, according to Palmer Police Chief Robert Frydryk, who spoke to The Springfield Republican in an article posted on the newspaper's website.

The intensity of the flames apparently prevented Francis from escaping from her apartment, police said.

Nine other residents escaped from the flames, including one who reportedly jumped from a window.

One person was taken to the Wing Memorial Hospital with what were described by police as non-life-threatening injuries, according to the press release. The blaze remains under investigation.

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