1 dead in Twin Cities area house fire

Edina city officials say a woman died in a house fire on the 5300 block of Oaklawn Avenue this morning.

City communications director Jennifer Bennerotte said the fire started just before 5 a.m. She said firefighters found Cynthia Robb, 54, inside the front door and pronounced her dead at the scene. She said the smoke detectors were not working when firefighters arrived.

"However, it should not be assumed that the fire alarms weren't working, the smoke detectors may have been working, but might have died in the course of the fire, which is believed to have burned for quite a while," Bennerotte said.

Bennerotte said four people lived in the home; however, the victim was the only one home at the time of the fire. She said the state Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

Fire crews from Richfield, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, St. Louis Park and Hopkins responded to the fire.