Burned body found in Ukiah apartment

Ukiah police and fire officials are investigating the death of a woman found burned in an apartment.

The woman, identified Tuesday as Marilyn Van Kirk, 66, was found with severe burns Monday night on the living room floor, Ukiah police Capt. Justin Wyatt said.

Wyatt said the fire appeared to be accidental as there was nothing suspicious to indicate homicide or suicide.

The woman, whose name hasn’t been released, was a smoker, he said. Fire investigators were looking for a cause, including whether smoking materials were involved.

A manager of the apartment complex found the body and the fire and put out the flames with an extinguisher.

Ukiah and Cal Fire firefighters responded to a 911 call to the complex, which is in central Ukiah near North State Street. They arrived to find the fire already out, a fire official said.