Police Identify Woman Killed In House Fire

BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE, MD — Karen Elsa Carstens, 55, was identified Monday as the woman killed in a house fire last week.

The Montgomery County Police Department said that there was no foul play suspected in Carstens' death.

Carstens was found inside a Chevy Chase house early Friday on the 4700 block of Merivale Road, suffering from life-threatening injuries. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Related: Woman Killed In House Fire In Chevy Chase, Police Say

Emergency crews were called to the home at approximately 5:43 a.m.

In addition to Carstens, a man not named by police was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer told Bethesda Today on Monday that officials believe the two individuals are siblings and that the brother likely did not know the woman reentered the home.

Investigators believe the woman returned indoors to rescue their cat, but that she became overwhelmed by the smoke.

At the time, MCFRS spokesperson David Pazos said the fire started near the home's garage and was fueled by accelerants.

A GoFundMe page has been launched to support the Carstens family. Aiming to collect $22,000, the fundraising total has reached nearly 80% of the goal.

Funds will be used to pay for funeral expenses and any other immediate needs for the family, according to Cathy Solberg, an organizer for the fundraising effort.