Three people were killed and a fourth person was hospitalized overnight Thursday after fire destroyed a home in El Cajon, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO).
Firefighters received a call just before midnight and responded to the 900 block of North Anza Street in unincorporated El Cajon. There, crews quickly determined the blaze was a two-alarm and requested assistance from other units.
San Diego News
At the scene, firefighters found one person dead in the burning home and three others hurt as a result of the blaze, according to SDSO Lt. Matt Carpenter. The three individuals who were hurt were taken to an area hospital, where two of them later died.
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Sheriff officials say three people were inside the home and a man was outside at the time of the fire. All three who were inside died.
On Friday afternoon, Clair St. James told NBC 7 that her mother, Marilyn Trumper, and stepfather, Herman Trumper, were both killed in the fire. The third fatality connected to the blaze was Ian Trumper, a biological grandson who they adopted. According to St. James, Ian was disabled and used a wheelchair.
Another grandson, Robbie Trumper, survived the fire, St. James said.
Video from the scene showed smoke coming from the roof of the home and flames spitting out of the walls, jumping to a nearby powerline. A gas line ruptured a gas meter during the overnight ordeal, prompting SDG&E to respond to the scene, according to San Miguel Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Christiansen.
Lili McFarland, who lives near the scene, told NBC 7 she saw the house fully engulfed in flames and a nearby car on fire.
"The sheriff came and backed us all off and said, 'You know, you might have to be evacuated, so be prepared,' because of the ashes and embers," McFarland said.
"When I got out of our apartment, which is in the middle, there was ashes everywhere," McFarland recalled. "And then you could see on the roof, ashes."
Due to the extent of the fire, the house was deemed a total loss. SDSO's Bomb/Arson Unit has taken over the investigation into the blaze.
Details on what led up to the fire are unclear.
The Bomb Arson Unit is investigating the incident.
