Athens investigators are working to determine the cause of a Monday house fire that claimed the life of an unidentified woman.

Sometime after 2 a.m. Monday, firefighters were called to a property in the 19000 block of Airfield Street, located on the north end of Athens. Owens and Piney Chapel fire departments responded and found the building fully involved, Johnson said.

While working the blaze, Piney Chapel Chief Lance Pitts discovered the body of a female inside the residence. Athens Police and a deputy of the state Fire Marshal’s office were called to investigate.

Owens and Piney Chapel fire departments were dispatched to the scene first, Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said, because the property was described to be outside Athens city limits.

When officers located the building, Athens Fire & Rescue offered its assistance, but Owens and Piney crews said they had the scene under control.

The female, whom authorities said was 38-years-old, was living inside a detached building on her boyfriend’s grandparents’ property. Johnson said his department spent most of Monday investigating rumors and interviewing neighbors and family, but currently do not have evidence to suggest the fire was anything other than accidental.

Limestone County Coroner Mike West told The News Courier the woman’s body had been sent to a forensics lab for positive identification and her name will be released after her family is notified, which, Johnson added, is a lengthy process.