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SHREWSBURY, Mass. – The victim of Thursday's fire on South Quinsigamond Avenue has been identified as Paula Shumway.
Shumway, 64, was found in the bathroom of her half of the duplex at 357 South Quinsigamond Ave.
Firefighters responded to the home around 8:05 p.m. to find half of the building engulfed in flames. It took about 15 minutes to knock down the fire and firefighters found Shumway while working.
The State Fire Marshal's office and the State Police are investigating the cause, but Fire Chief James Vuona said the fire began in the bedroom.
"We identified several potential ignition sources," Vuona said, "but it is difficult to attach a cause to it."
Vuona listed an ash tray, burnt up electrical equipment and more in the woman's bedroom. He said no accelerants were found and it does not appear there were any faults with the electrical system.
Shumway's cause of death has not yet been determined, but she was on oxygen prior to the fire. Vuona said an autopsy will likely need to be completed before a cause can be identified.
The family living in the other half of the duplex made it out safely.
