Apartment building fire in Palmer kills woman

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

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

Police identified the victim as Theresa M. Francis.

Investigators are trying to determine whether a space heater ignited draperies, said 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 Wing Memorial Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said in the press release.

The blaze is under investigation.

ANNE BAKER