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Smoke Inhalation claimed artist’s life.
By Marie Chamberland, Tribune Staff Writer
[The Evening Tribune 24 July 1990]
Welland—An autopsy revealed Frances Turnbull, a well-known city artist died of smoke inhalation.
The 89-year-old’s body was pulled from the second floor of her burning home at 102 River Road Sunday.
Cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“I have found nothing to indicate anything suggesting foul play, or for that matter, anything other than an accidental cause,” Cliff Miller, an investigator for the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office, said at the scene late yesterday.
“The actual cause remains undetermined at this time,” he said.
“Natural gas has been ruled out as the cause of the fire,” he said.
Miller expects officials of his office will be on the scene sifting through the wreckage of the once stately home until about noon today.
It is believed fire broke out in the south-west corner on the second floor of the two-and-a half storey building at about 12:35 p.m. Sunday. Turnbull’s body was found by firefighters on the second floor near an exit at about 1:20 p.m.
Turnbull, a small white haired woman described by neighbors as a nice eccentric who horded various everyday items, lived alone.
“She was an obvious collector,” Miller said.
Turnbull had one daughter, Deborah Peddle, who lives in Toronto.
Upset by news coverage of the tragedy, Peddle declined comment yesterday.
Miller said the top floor of Turnbull’s home was “a total write-off.”. The second floor has extensive structural damage, and the entire house has extensive water damage.
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