A Columbia Heights woman who died of smoke inhalation and burn injuries shortly after being taken to the hospital has been identified as Wendy Jean Mady, 53, according to the Hennepin County medical examiner's office.
The blaze started shortly after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on the 1000 block of 44½ Avenue NE., fire officials said.
Firefighters rescued Mady, who was trapped inside the house, and took her to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she died about an hour later.
Three men escaped uninjured.
The fire was confined mostly to a back bedroom. Authorities have yet to determine how the blaze started.
Shannon Prather
