EAST FISHKILL – Fire that claimed the life of a woman at her home at 374 Augusta Drive in Hopewell Junction over the weekend has been determined to have been the result of an electrical fire in a wall.
East Fishkill Police Chief Kevin Keefe identified the victim on Tuesday as Katherine Perez, 52, who lived at the house. Once the fire was brought under control and the house was searched, firefighters located her body. Her cause of death was determined to be from smoke inhalation.
The blaze was reported around 7 p.m. on Saturday. The first East Fishkill Police officer on the scene found the building heavily involved by fire.
Two occupants, a 47-year-old man and his 17-year-old son, who lived on the lower level of the home, were located.
The East Fishkill Fire Department was assisted by a number of neighboring departments.
The house was a total loss. The surviving occupants were being assisted by the American Red Cross.
