Kennewick homeowner identified as fatal fire victim
Kennewick fire investigators suspect an electrical problem is to blame for last week’s house fire that killed a woman.
The Benton County coroner confirmed Tuesday that the woman who died was the homeowner Tara Ulmen Didier, 60.
An autopsy at the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office found she died Aug. 20 from smoke inhalation in what appears to be an accident, said Benton County Coroner Bill Leach.
Firefighters were called to her home on 220 E. First Avenue after a passerby spotted smoke and flames about 2:30 a.m. Her body was found inside.
Fire Capt. Brian Ellis said they suspect that an electrical issue likely sparked the deadly blaze, though the exact cause is undetermined.
Didier, a Kennewick High School graduate, bought the home in 2011, according to the Benton County Assessor’s Office records. She was previously married to Chris Didier, Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier’s brother.
Clint Didier previously told the Herald that she was a fantastic person, a sentiment that was echoed by others on Facebook.
Friends and relatives said she was always willing to offer a helping hand and was fun to be around.
“It breaks my heart that I never actually told you how awesome I thought you were,” said a friend. “The world lost a great lady.”
During the fire investigation, officials discovered she had no working smoke alarms in the house, and they encouraged people to check their alarms to make sure there is one inside each bedroom and outside all sleeping areas.
Contact the Kennewick Fire Department’s fire marshal office at 509-585-4230 with any questions about smoke alarms or if you need help replacing them.