Woman found dead in Medway home fire

MEDWAY – State Fire Marshal’s Office investigators are working to determine why a 58-year-old woman was killed when fire swept through her mobile home.

Elzire Mae (Gould) LaForrest of Grindstone Road appears to have died when a fire began in a wood attachment to her mobile home. The home was destroyed at about 3 a.m. Friday, said Sgt. Tim York, an investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

LaForrest might have died in her sleep, York said.

“There is no indication of her ever waking up or attempting to flee the residence,” York said.

The specific origin and cause of the fire have not yet been released. Investigator Stu Jacobs of the fire marshal’s office is handing the investigation. He examined the fire scene at about 8 a.m. Friday, York said. Jacobs could not be reached for comment Sunday.

No cause of death has yet been determined, an official from the state medical examiner’s office said Sunday.

Medway and East Millinocket firefighters went to the scene of the blaze, with Medway firefighters primarily handling the fire. Medway Fire Chief Peter Noddin did not immediately return telephone messages left at the Medway station Sunday night.

LaForrest is to be buried after a service at Glad Tidings Church in Medway on Tuesday.