COTTAGE GROVE — On April 2, just after 2:30 a.m., officers with the Cottage Grove Police Department were on patrol in the 1200 block of N. Hwy. 99 when they observed flames and smoke coming from the Relax Inn, located at 1030 N. Hwy. 99.
The officers immediately notified South Lane 9-1-1 and responded to assist tenants in evacuating their rooms. South Lane Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire.
Theresa Lynn Fusselman, 66, of Cottage Grove, was found deceased in a heavily damaged room, while three others from an adjacent room were able to escape and were transported to Peace Health Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend with unknown injuries. No other injuries were reported.
The incident is under investigation by the Cottage Grove Police Department, South Lane Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Cottage Grove Police Department at 541-942-9145.
