Woman Dies on Street Named for Her

Family members who live on the the same street were schocked by woman's death.

The fire broke out Monday afternoon in the 400 block of Orrell Drive in National City. Investigators spent the afternoon combing through the home, looking for clues on what started the blaze.

At about 4:15 p.m. the house's living room was fully engulfed in flames. After they were put out, firefighters found the woman on the floor, not far from one of her dogs. Family members had trouble controlling their grief on Monday, as did longtime neighbors.

"She was a very wonderful lady," neighbor Loretta Martinez said. "Too bad this tragedy happened -- it is so sad."

Relatives said the woman lived on the street for most of her life -- more than 50 years. In fact, the street bears her family name.

"They've been here since this was all dirt and they were all egg ranches," neighbor Mary Martinez said. "Her husband built all these houses."

Fire investigators said the victim was a cigarette smoker and that they think that might have had something to do with how the fire started. Officials were waiting to notify the next of kin prior to releasing the woman's full identity.

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