Geneva woman dies in early morning house fire

An elderly Geneva woman died Monday after fire swept through her home on the 800 block of East Side Drive.

Firefighters were called to the one-story house at 5:10 a.m. after a passer-by spotted smoke billowing from two windows, Geneva Fire Chief Steve Olson said.

"Upon entering and doing a preliminary search, we found the victim on the living room floor," Olson said. "It was very hot and there was a lot of black smoke."

Firefighters did not identify the woman, but officials at Delnor Hospital in Geneva confirmed Nancy Schultz, whose name is on a sign in front of the house, was pronounced dead. A dog also died in the fire, fire officials said.

Olson said the woman was elderly and lived alone. He said the blaze remains under investigation but "we do not regard it as suspicious."

Damage to the house was estimated at $150,000. Olson said firefighters from Batavia, Elburn, Fermilab, North Aurora, St. Charles and West Chicago assisted at the scene.