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Last updated on Friday, March 23, 2012
(WASHINGTON) - The cause of a fatal fire in Washington is still under investigation.
An apartment complex on Northeast 7th street caught fire Wednesday afternoon, killing 38-year old April Mandabach.
Her daughter 18-year-old Lacy Wadsworth and April's boyfriend Steve Potts were also injured in the blaze. When firefighters arrived at the fire, Potts was on the roof of the home and Lacy was standing at a window.According to witnesses, Lacy jumped from the second-story window. She had suffered severe burns all over the body. Potts was rescued by firefighters.
Washington Police Chief Mike Healy says both Potts and Lacy were taken to Daviess Community Hospital. Lacy was flown to Wishard Hospital and Potts to Vanderbilt University in Nashville for smoke inhalation.
40-year-old Potts is in stable condition at Vanderbilt University Hospital, according to a spokesman at that hospital. He has been moved from the hospital's burn unit.
The Daviess County Red Cross says they opened six cases. Four families are living in hotels, one family is in transitional housing and a man is living with his family, according to Red Cross Director Mary Bechtel.
The house held seven apartments, according to owner Thadd Rusk, with varying rent amounts. He is unsure if he will rebuild.
Washington Fire Department Battallion Chief Rick Mattingly says the state fire marshal's office was finishing its investigation. Mattingly was speaking for Chief Dave Rhoads, who had to be hospitalized overnight and was recouperating.
The State Fire Marshal Office says the cause of the blaze is still undetermined. Additional findings could take a few weeks.
Firefighters were called to the house hours before the fire after complaints of smoke in the hallway, but Washington's Fire Chief says crews couldn't find anything, even after spending nearly an hour with thermal imaging equipment.
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