Laurie Cobb

Laurie Ann (Geldard) Cobb

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) -- A woman whose husband was a firefighter at the deadly Station nightclub blaze has died in a fire at her home. Warwick Fire Chief John Chartier says Laurie Cobb was found dead on the first floor of her house this morning. She was 40 years old and was an elementary school teacher. Chartier says a fire apparently started in the basement and caused considerable smoke damage. Cobb's husband, Michael, died in a hotel at Foxwoods casino in April 2003, a few months after the fire at the West Warwick nightclub killed 100 people.

WARWICK, R.I. -- A public school teacher was found dead early Wednesday morning after a fire in her Warwick home.

NBC 10's Brian Crandall reported that the victim was 40-year-old Laurie Cobb. The cause of her death has not been determined.

The fire began in the basement of her home at 354 Hillard Ave. at about 6 am. The fire chief said the fire is not considered suspicious, but its cause was not immediately known.

Cobb was a fifth-grade teacher at Warren A. Sherman Elementary School in Warwick, where she taught for 16 years.

Teams of councilors and psychologists worked with students and staff Wednesday.

"It's devastating because she was a young teacher, worked hard with her students. It's an unfortunate tragedy," superintendent Robert Shapiro said, "and I think that there is an enormous amount of grief in the school because Mrs. Cobb was a very well-liked teacher and had a great commitment to her students."

Crandall reported that a letter will be sent home with students.