An investigation is underway after a woman was killed early Friday during a house fire in rural Poway.
The fatal fire started around 2:30 a.m. at a home on the 14800 block of Crocker Road, just south of Poway High School, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO). Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene before firefighters and began to break windows to look for anyone in the burning home.
Deputies saw the woman in a bedroom but were unable to access her due to the fire. They tried to speak to her but didn’t get a response and later saw her consumed by flames, deputies told NBC 7.
Rodney Ortiz, Poway Fire Department Battalion Chief Rodney Ortiz recalled how challenging it was to reach the scene.
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“At 2 o’clock in the morning with the heavy fog, it was very difficult to find this location and they had limited water resources available to them," Ortiz told NBC 7. "They were quite a distance away and when they got here, the house was very well involved and because of its location, there was a heavy amount of fire by the time we were here at the scene."
Authorities would not reveal details on the deceased, such as her name and age. A neighbor did tell NBC 7, however, that a woman lived at the residence by herself.
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Several animals such as chickens, a dog and a horse were on the property at the time of the blaze. They are now under the care of the woman's loved ones.
Detectives from SDSO’s Bomb/Arson Unit have been called to the scene to investigate the fire and as per protocol whenever a fatal fire occurs, homicide investigators will also assist in the case.
It is unclear what sparked the blaze. The investigation is ongoing.
