SALEM — Salem firefighters responded to a call in the 400 block of East Bennett early Wednesday morning where the home was destroyed and a woman lost her life.

According to initial reports, the fire call came in just before 5 a.m. Wednesday, indicating the backyard of the home was on fire.

Upon their arrival, however, firefighters found flames shooting from the back of the home. As firefighters attempted to enter the home to search for the woman, the ceiling began falling in and forced crews back outside.

The woman’s body was ultimately discovered and the Marion County Coroner’s Office declared her dead at the scene. Her name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Heat from the blaze ignited a backyard shed on the property and it was also destroyed.

Kell, Odin, and Kinmundy-Alma firefighters provided mutual aid at the scene, while Centralia Fire Protection stood by at the Salem station in case of another call.