Smoking Cause Of Fatal Natick House Fire

NATICK (CBS) -- The fire that killed a 73-year-old woman on Saturday was caused by an improper disposal of smoking materials, according to fire officials.

An off-duty Natick firefighter who was on his way to work early Saturday morning when he saw the flames coming from the East Central Street home.

Carol McCarthy, 73, who lived in the home, was rushed to a nearby hospital

Fire officials said the fire started in the second floor bedroom, where resident Carol McCarthy was found unconscious. McCarthy was rushed to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.

Two smoke alarms were found in the home, one without any battery at all, and one with a dead battery. One carbon monoxide alarm was also found without a battery.

"Tragedies such as this are a reminder to all of us to review our safety precautions for our own households," District Attorney Marian T. Ryan said in a public statement. "Smoke detectors can serve as an early warning system for residents and are critical to preventing fatal fires."