Cataldo couple burned

CATALDO — The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident near Cataldo that killed a woman and sent her husband to the hospital with severe burns.

On Sunday just before 7:30 p.m., deputies were called to the 33000 block of East Canyon Road near Cataldo for a welfare check.

William J. Mack, 71, of Cataldo called 911 to report that he needed help and that he thought his wife, Sandra K. Mack, 71, of Cataldo, was dead.

Medical and fire personnel from Rose Lake and Kellogg Fire also responded, and once on scene, advised that William was suffering from severe burns and being transported for medical care.

Additionally, they said Sandra was deceased at the scene, but had also suffered severe burns.

Deputies later learned that at some point in the evening the couple were outside near a fire pit when for an unknown reason or cause, both suffered severe burns.

Detectives responded and took over the investigation. An autopsy will be performed on Sandra today. William was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle due to his condition.

Further information will be released when it becomes available.