Arcata Police Department press release:

On September 10, 2014, at about 1306 hours, the Arcata Police Department responded with the Arcata Fire Protection District to a structure fire at an apartment complex located within the 2200 block of Alliance Road in Arcata. 

As the fire department extinguished the fire, they located a deceased adult female within the apartment where the fire appeared to originate.  The female was later identified as Kelly Nichols (52 years) of Arcata.  She was confirmed to be the lone occupant of the apartment. 

A joint investigation was conducted by investigators from the Arcata Police Department, Arcata Fire Protection District and the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office. The fire appears to have been started by Nichols inside of her apartment. After the fire began, neighbors attempted to convince Nichols to leave the apartment.  Nichols refused to come out of the burning structure.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call the Arcata Police Department at 707-822-2428 or the Arcata Fire Protection District at 707-825-2000.

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