A 71-year-old woman died Sunday morning after a fire swept through a southwest Atlanta home, officials said.

The fire started in a rear bedroom at a home on Waters Road, according to Atlanta Fire Rescue spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford. The accidental blaze was caused by a misplaced cigarette, he said.

The fire severely damaged the home, authorities said. Five adults were able to escape the home, but 71-year-old Gloria Mayes died of her injuries, officials said.

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