(WSB/WCN photo by Patrick Sand)
6:03 PM: From partner site White Center Now: Firefighters confirm one person was found dead at the scene of a house fire in the 9800 block of 28th SW. The fire itself was not that big, but generated lots of smoke, and they suspect the victim – described as a woman in her late 60s, early 70s – was overcome by smoke. Investigators don’t know yet how it started; West Seattle firefighters were called to assist North Highline/Burien crews at the scene. More in our WCN report. P.S. The “crime scene” tape doesn’t mean it’s a suspected crime – it’s just what they had handy to cordon it off.

6:54 PM UPDATE: Our crew is just back from a followup visit to the scene, with this video of a briefing with the acting battalion chief:

The only new bit of information is that the fire started in the living room and spread to a crawlspace.

8:35 PM UPDATE: A friend of the 71-year-old woman who lived at the home, a longtime local business owner, tells us her friend is the fire victim, and that her family mostly lives out of town but will be contacted. Our policy is to not publish names until either authorities or relatives confirm that next of kin has been officially notified. The victim’s friend remembers her as “a wonderfully sweet and kind lady with a wicked sense of humor; a dear friend who will be greatly missed.”

10:16 PM UPDATE: Just went back to check – 28th SW is reopened. One fire vehicle and a TV truck remain at the scene.