One person was found dead inside a cabin fire in the East County mountain-area Sunday morning, according to CAL Fire.
A dispatcher received a 911 call about a fire in the 2400 block of Las Terrinitos in Descanso, at about 8:35 a.m., said CAL Fire Captain Daryll Pina.
Firefighters arrived to find a single-story cabin in flames with heavy smoke coming from under the vents and roof, Pina added.
Firefighters initially tried to enter the home but were blocked off from doing so because of the blaze's strength. Once they were able to enter the home they found a dead person.
The person is believed to be the owner of the residence, Pina said.
The home sits back from the street with a long driveway, said Pina and the flames did not make it to any other structures.
The resident may have been using portable propane heaters in order to keep warm, said San Diego County Sgt. E. J. Dayrit.
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Lorie Bernard, who lived next door to the cabin, said she noticed the flames while walking her dogs and tried to enter the home.
“I ran down to [his] house…I tried kicking in the door and couldn’t get it open, so I ran to the manager’s house and called 911.”
Bernard was able to bust the door open later but due the smoke she was unable to enter the home, she said.
Bernard said the home’s owner and only resident was a 52-year-old man. As of sunday evening the peron foudn dead in the blaze had yet to be officially identifed by the San Diego Medical Examiner.
Eight engines responded to the incident along with one water tender and 25 to 30 personnel, said Pina. The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit was also called to investigate, according to a media release.
The fire is under investigation, though officials said they don't suspect foul play was involved.
Descanso is located about midway between Pine Valley and Alpine.
