Deadly fire at Wichita Falls apartment building ruled accidental

WICHITA FALLS, TX (TNN) - Officials with the Wichita Falls Fire Department have ruled a deadly structure fire that sparked over the weekend accidental.

The fire at Midtown Manor on Burnett Street claimed the life of Eva Harlan, 58. Fire officials said the fire was started by an “improperly disposed of smoking material” that ignited bedding where Harlan was laying.

Firefighters initially responded to a report of a fire alarm at the six-story building at 1:20 a.m. on Saturday morning. Responders requested additional units when they found heavy smoke on the fifth floor.

Related: One person killed in overnight fire

Firefighters made their way into an apartment on the fifth floor and discovered Harlan lying in the hallway inside the front door. She was pronounced dead once firefighters got her outside.

Her body has been sent to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy. Those results are pending.