Fire that killed 93-year-old deliberately set: RCMP

RCMP investigators have determined a Cross Lake house fire that killed a 93-year-old woman was deliberately set.

Cross Lake RCMP officers first noticed smoke coming from a home in the northern Manitoba community around 3:30 a.m. Aug. 9.

Police tried to get in through the front door but were turned back by heavy smoke. As they broke windows to help clear the smoke, they noticed a woman on the floor of the home.

The woman was pulled out of the burning home, but later died.

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Leona Blacksmith, 38, from Cross Lake, was arrested two days after the fatal blaze and has been charged with second-degree murder.

RCMP told 680 CJOB that Blacksmith was also charged with uttering threats and assault with a weapon, and will be appearing in court in Thompson on Sept. 13.

WATCH: Fire crews attend fatal house fire on Boyd Avenue

0:35 Fire crews attend fatal house fire on Boyd Avenue