Coroner IDs Woman Who Died In Cotati Fire

The Sacramento County coroner’s office has identified the woman who died in a fire at her Cotati home last Friday as 70-year-old Claudia Rickman.

Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District crews responded around 10 p.m. Friday to an automatic fire alarm at an apartment at 42 Charles St. Firefighters found smoke from the floor to the ceiling when they arrived about six minutes later and a fire extinguisher had largely extinguished the blaze.

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The fire was confined to a futon, according to the fire district. When fans cleared the smoke from the apartment, firefighters found Rickman in the living room and carried her outside, Battalion Chief Mike Weihman said.

Rickman was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, then was transferred to University at California at Davis Medical Center’s burn unit in Sacramento, where she died.

The fire started when a cigarette fell to the floor, ignited something and spread to a blanket and Rickman’s clothing, Weihman said. Investigators believe Rickman was burned seconds after the fire started and before the sprinkler about 10 feet away turned on, according to the fire district.

--Bay City News