Woman found dead inside burning Skagit County home

SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. — A woman was found dead inside her burning home in Skagit County.

Firefighters and police were called to the home on Sterling Street near Township in Sedro-Woolley at about 1 a.m. Wednesday.

A neighbor said she was alerted to the fire by her husband who woke up to sounds of loud popping.  At one point, the flames shot up higher than the trees above the house.

Firefighters were able to get the fire under the control, but the victim, identified by her former husband as 46-year-old Michelle Patterson, died at the scene.

Neighbor Brenda Suryan Sem said she has known Patterson since she moved to Sedro-Woolley 12 years ago and learning about the death reminds her how fast a tragedy can happen.

"Oh, my God. And then I think, 'I’d better be pulling out my smoke detector and getting it back on the wall,' because it’s been off for a little bit. It’s horrifying," said Suryan Sem.

Patterson was the only person who was inside the home when the fire broke out. She is survived by her two sons, ages 18 and 21.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

KIRO 7 Reporter Patranya Bhoolsuwan is speaking to those who knew the victim for a live report at 5 p.m. >>http://kiro.tv/LiveNews

Cox Media Group