CLARENCE CENTER, N.Y. — Investigators have released the cause of a fire that took the life of a Clarence woman and four dogs.
Sixty-two-year-old nurse Joan Wozer died in the Spaulding Lake Drive fire last month.
Investigators with the Erie County Sheriff's Office say the cause of the fire was an issue with the chimney's infrastructure. They say the fire was able to escape from the fireplace and caused the blaze that heavily damaged the home.
Officials say smoke detectors in the home did not activate when the fire began. The home's fireplace was a wood-burning one with a natural gas starter.
Clarence District 1 Volunteer Chief Brett Hanford said at the time of the fire there were four people inside the home, but only three were able to make it out. Additionally, one dog made it safely out of the home as well.
In total, 10 volunteer fire departments from the Northtowns had arrived at the scene.
An investigation had been launched immediately following the incident, and law enforcement asked anyone with photos or videos of the fire to submit them as help.
The fire caused an estimated $1 million in damage, with $700,000 to the structure and $300,000 to its contents.
