Medical examiner identifies woman found dead in burned home

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Authorities have identified the 75-year-old woman who was found dead inside her torched Lawrenceville-area home on Wednesday.

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Gloria Lewis was killed after a fire broke out at her Brandon Square home in unincorporated Lawrenceville. According to the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner's Office, she died as a result of smoke and soot inhalation.

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Firefighters responded to the home around 3 p.m. Wednesday after neighbors called 911. Firefighters told FOX 5 News a deputy tried to get inside the home to rescue anyone inside, but the flames were too intense. Neighbors even tried to put out flames with a hose.

Firefighters said they tried to enter the home when they arrived, but could not gain entry into the home.

"[Firefighters] entered in on the garage side, which was partially unburned at that point, but they were forced out momentarily due to the intense heat and flames," said Captain Tommy Rutledge of Gwinnett Fire. 

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The fire originated in the front formal sitting room of the home, and investigators are inspecting numerous electrical outlets that could have contributed to the cause; the woman was found deceased in the rear master bedroom.

Investigators said Lewis was known to have serious health problems, and are working to determine if those issues contributed to her death.

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The house was determined to be a total loss and caused minor damage to neighboring houses from the heat.