Mexico Public Safety: Fire that killed woman started in neighboring apartment

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mexico Public Safety Department along with the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office have released information about a deadly fire.

Firefighters arrived at the 200 block of East Jackson Street for a report of a fire at an apartment building on 3 a.m. Oct. 9, according to a Wednesday press release.

Investigators said the fire started in a bedroom/bathroom area in a neighboring apartment that was next to where the victim -- Sheila Ball, 53, of Mexico -- lived.

A resident of the neighboring apartment reported being in the bedroom with another person before leaving for about half an hour. When they came home, the apartment was on fire, according to the release.

The exact cause of the fire has not been released. However, Mexico Public Safety said in the release that the "careless disposal of smoking material cannot be ruled out as the cause of the fire."