A woman died of smoke inhalation after a house fire in Petersburg early yesterday, officials said.

The woman, whose name and age were not released, died shortly after the 4:09 a.m. fire at 432 S. Adams St., Petersburg Fire Battalion Chief Bobby Harvell said.

The woman was taken to Southside Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said.

At the time of the fire, she was the only person in the one-story, single-family house, Harvell said. It was unclear yesterday whether she was the sole resident.

Fire marshals determined that the blaze was caused by an electrical malfunction in a bedroom, Harvell said. They concluded that the fire was accidental, he said, but continued to investigate last night.

Flames burned one bedroom and parts of the hallway leading to the bedroom, Harvell said. Three fire engines went to the scene, and firefighters needed about 50 minutes to get the flames under control, he said.

Fire marshals also determined that the house had a smoke detector that was not working.

Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or llazo@timesdispatch.com.