The woman killed in a Bells Corners house fire this week has been identified as Luda Vidisheva, 39.
Vidisheva’s body was discovered Thursday by first responders combing the remains of the fire that broke out just before 11 a.m. in the corner unit of a two-storey rowhouse complex at the corner of Moodie Drive and Hadley Circle. The three-alarm blaze quickly engulfed both floors of the unit.
On Saturday, Sgt. David Christie of the Ottawa police arson unit confirmed the woman’s name and age, and said she was the sole occupant of the residence. Vidisheva’s dog was also killed in the fire.
Investigators have determined that the cause of the fire was accidental and say damage is estimated at $400,000.
The police and the Office of the Fire Marshal have concluded their investigations and have turned the site over to the insurance company. Christie said he expected the building will need to be demolished due to the extent of the damage.
Heavy, grey smoke billowed out of the northwest end unit and blanketed the area on Thursday.
Firefighters were ordered to evacuate the building and fight the fire from the outside. The department’s command unit was sent to the scene and a third alarm called.
Initially, there had been no reports of injuries, but rescue teams had to pull out of the building before completing a full search of the property.
The victim’s body was discovered just after 3 p.m.
Vidisheva is the fourth person to die in a residential house fire in Ottawa this year.
