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The death of an elderly woman in a Palo Alto house fire on Wednesday afternoon has been ruled by the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office to have been accidental due to smoke inhalation.
The police investigation into the fire has now been concluded, Palo Alto Police Sgt. Sandra Brown said.
Neighbors say that Barbara Costello had lived in the house at 3864 Corina Way in south Palo Alto with her husband Ted since the house was built in 1955. Barbara Costello was a retired employee and teacher’s aide for the Palo Alto Unified School District.
Neighbors say Barbara Costello was partially disabled and had difficulty walking. Ted Costello was not at home at the time of the fire.
The coroner’s office has not yet officially released the name of Costello as the woman who died in the fire.
The fire began in the backyard or at the back of the house around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Palo Alto Fire Department.
By Don Kazak
This is such a shame. My sympathies to the lady’s husband and their family.
Hopefully there is a lesson to be learnt from the tragedy. I have no idea from the report about details but it shows just how important smoke detectors are and that they are checked regularly. This must be so much more important for the elderly who can’t move as quickly as they used to and perhaps their hearing isn’t so good either. I read somewhere that smoke alarms don’t seem to wake up children who can sleep through them and it is generally the parents who wake up first and then have to wake their children. Also, some of the homes of elderly people I know are very untidy with clothes, old newspapers, etc. stored all over the place which makes it difficult to more around the house with ease and also fuels a fire much easier than a neat and tidy home.
We should really check on our elderly neighbors and relatives and make sure that there homes are safe and not death traps.
Ted, I am so sorry you lost your wife in such a tragic way. Barbara
Dear Ted: I do not know where to write, so I am using the Weekly channel in the hope you get this message. We are awfully sorry for this terrible accident. You have been our neighbors for 14 years and we will always remember Barb’s kindness. Plase accept our deepest sympathy. Your friends from France, Jacques & Beatriz.