The victim of a house fire on Billings South Side has been identified

BILLINGS – The Yellowstone County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday released the name of the woman who died after a house fire on the Billings South Side.

Arlene Arispe, 89, died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries suffered on December 31 when a fire broke out at a home on Phillip Street. The coroner’s office said the woman’s death was ruled an accident.

Billings fire officials provided little information about the fire, which broke out just after 11 a.m., including its possible cause. However, a man who lives in the house recently told MTN News that his wife was also seriously injured in the fire.

Jason Allard said two days after the fire that he was at work when he received a call about a fire at the home he shared with his wife, Gail, and her grandmother, Arlene.

Allard said Gail was found in a vehicle outside the home and was later airlifted to a Denver hospital for treatment of a collapsed lung and severe burns.

Recent update to gofundme family set up by a friend says Gail continued to receive treatment in Denver.