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Marietta house fire claims woman’s life

MARIETTA — The co-founder of Bird Watcher’s Digest, based in Marietta died Saturday as the result of a house fire.

In a post on the Bird Watcher’s Digest Facebook page, the organization announced the passing of Elsa Thompson.

“In a house fire believed to have been electrical, she died exactly two months after her son, Bill Thompson III, succumbed to cancer,” the posting said. “We will have more news and a tribute to our beloved matriarch in the next few days, but wished to share this with the BWD family, fans, and followers, who will share our shock and loss.”

Local media reports said the Marietta Fire Department and other fire departments responded Saturday night to a fully involved house fire at 306 Warren St. in Marietta around 11:15 p.m. Reports also said firefighters pulled an elderly woman from the structure who was taken to Marietta Memorial Hospital.

Firefighters were on the scene until Sunday morning working on hot spots and making sure the fire did not reignite, reports indicated.

A captain at the Marietta Fire Department said Sunday the only information he could release was that the cause of the fire was still under investigation. All other information would have to come from Chief C.W. Durham, who could not be reached Sunday evening for comment.

Elsa Thompson was also the mother of former Ohio Representative Andy Thompson.

A number of people posted condolences on the Facebook pages for Bird Watcher’s Digest and to Andy Thompson’s Facebook page.

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