Woman dies in south Arkansas house fire

— Authorities said one person has died and a volunteer fire chief suffered smoke inhalation after a house fire in Columbia County.

Sheriff Mike Loe told the Banner-News that the Monday morning fire killed 77-year-old Betty Jean Sanders. Loe said the fire began at about 1 a.m. Monday. He said the flames spread quickly throughout the house, trapping Sanders inside.

Loe said McNeil Rural Volunteer Fire Department Chief Artie Talley was taken to a hospital in Magnolia for smoke inhalation. His condition wasn’t immediately available.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

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