The victim of a fatal house fire that occurred on Bell Rd. on May 27 has been identified.

According to Sgt. Tom Cunningham of the Virginia State Police, the body of Carol Palumbo Gough, 65, was found in the home as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. Rescue workers had been alerted to the fact that there was someone in the house by a neighbor when they arrived on the scene.

Powhatan Engine 1 had initially been dispatched to the home at 4782 Bell Rd. just after 1 p.m. to investigate a report of smoke. According to Powhatan Fire Chief Pat Schoeffel, a second call came in moments later alerting crews to the house fire. Firefighters and rescue workers arrived on the scene to find the single story dwelling engulfed in flame, with much of the roof already gone.

Due to the magnitude of the blaze, state police were called into assist with the investigation of the scene. Cunningham reported that agents arrived at the scene at around 2:30 p.m. with accelerant detecting dogs. Cunningham would not comment on whether the circumstances of the fire were suspicious, noting that the dogs “are a tool that is used in any fire investigation if such a resource is available.

Schoeffel said Monday that the location of the home, about 600 feet off Bell Road, may have been the reason the fire progressed as far as it did before firefighters were alerted.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Another home, this one located on Madison Place was destroyed by fire on Thursday, May 29. The fire was reportedly under control within 15 minutes and firefighters and police are still investigating the cause.

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