An early morning house fire that killed a Bainbridge woman has been ruled accidental.

Bainbridge Island Fire Marshal Luke Carpenter said the investigation of the blaze was wrapped up Saturday night.

The house fire in the 6500 block of Monte Vista Drive was reported by a neighbor just before 1 a.m. Saturday.

Firefighters found a two-story, single-family home nearly fully engulfed in flames when they arrived.

“The fire appears to be accidental and to have started in a pantry on the first floor,” Carpenter said.

Because of the extent of the damage to the home, Carpenter said the exact cause of the blaze could not be determined.

Firefighters from the Bainbridge department, as well as North Kitsap Fire & Rescue and the Poulsbo Fire Department, responded to the fire.

Carpenter said the residents of the home were asleep at the time of the fire, which was discovered after a smoke alarm went off and the husband went downstairs to investigate.

The man “found fire on the first floor and was unable to get back up to the second floor and get his wife,” Carpenter said.

The man tried to get back into the home, and a neighbor tried to help, as well, but the flames were too severe.

Firefighters could also not enter the home because of the size of the fire.

“Because of the amount of fire — and portions of the house began to collapse — we could not get into the house,” said Carpenter, who is also an assistant fire chief with the Bainbridge department.

Steep terrain around the home also made it difficult for firefighters battling the blaze.

The woman’s body was found at about 7 a.m. Saturday in an upstairs bedroom.

The husband was taken to Harrison Hospital for a medical evaluation, Carpenter said, but no serious injuries were reported. He is now getting assistance from neighbors and the Red Cross.

Firefighters were on the scene for 12 hours Saturday. In all, about 14 units responded to the blaze.