Probe continues into fire that killed 1, injured 1

The victims suffered smoke inhalation, firefighters said.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Firefighters are investigating the cause of a blaze that claimed the life of a 45-year-old city woman and injured a man at 3214 Aris St. N.W.
Cindy Singelas died Sunday at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital after she was taken there from the scene, said Randy Stelk, a Warren fire investigator. He said firefighters found her in the hallway of the one-story home.
Frank Warzala, 62, was found in the kitchen by firefighters and was taken to St. Joseph Health Center and then taken by helicopter to the burn unit at Akron Children's Hospital, where he was in critical condition. The relationship between Singelas and Warzala is not known.
Stelk said that it is too early to tell what caused the fire but that it was contained to the basement and caused a great deal of smoke damage. Firefighters forced their way into the home at 8:44 a.m. and extinguished the fire in the basement.
The call came at 8:42, and firefighters from the Parkman Road fire station were there so quickly because the house is located near the station, Stelk said.
Neither victim was burned but both did suffer smoke inhalation, he said, adding that both were alive when they were taken from the house. Warzala was conscious and talking, Stelk said.
"As soon as I talk to the surviving victim, we will have a better idea of what was transpiring at the time the fire started," Stelk said.
Stelk said there were two smoke detectors in the house, but one had no batteries and the other one had a dead battery.
runyan@vindy.com