The Clark County Medical Examiners Office reported earlier today, Aug. 13, that Stefany Cutler-Ffitch died from smoke inhalation, the result of a house fire in Ridgefield last week. The examiners' office also determined her death to be an accident.
According to Clark County Fire & Rescue Chief John Nohr, around 3:50 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 crews responded to the house at 29305 NW 41st Ave.
The first crew to arrive found the house fully engulfed in flames and a man limping away from the house after jumping from the second story to avoid the fire. He was transported to the hospital with a broken leg after telling crews that his girlfriend, now determined to be Cutler-Ffitch, was still inside.
Crews worked quickly to rescue her. They used a tall ladder to access a top story window and climbed inside. They were unable to locate Cutler-Ffitch and found that the floor had burned through.
Meanwhile, crews found someone else near the house who had also jumped from the second floor but was uninjured.
Cutler-Ffitch was found, deceased, around 3 p.m. later that day and was transported to the medical examiner's office.
Joining CCF&R on-scene was Vancouver Fire Department, Clark County Fire District 6 and Cowlitz Fire District 1. Clark County Public Works brought out a excavator to clear debris.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.