A house fire in Chiayi County's Minxiong Township killed a 39-year-old woman early Saturday morning, a tragedy for her family and a reminder of how fast smoke can trap people at home.

• Fire broke out in a single-story brick house in Liaoding Village just before 6:41 a.m.
• Firefighters pulled the homeowner's wife, surnamed Tsai, from inside, but she had no vital signs and later died at the hospital.
• An autopsy that afternoon ruled the death accidental — she suffocated from breathing in thick smoke.
• The blaze burned about 30 square meters and was put out by 8:19 a.m.

Outlook: Investigators are still working out what started the fire.