By Troy Pope
The Fresno Bee
FRESNO, Calif. — One person was killed and a firefighter attempting a rescue was injured after a fire broke out Saturday morning in central Fresno, the Fresno Fire Department said.
The call came in around 8:30 a.m. about a fire on Cornell Avenue near Shields and Maroa avenues.
Firefighters were on scene within five to six minutes, and witnesses told first responders that someone was still inside the house.
“We went into rescue mode,” said Fresno Fire Battalion Chief Todd Tuggle.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries during the rescue effort. He is being treated at Community Regional Medical Center for burns to his ears, but “he’ll most likely return to work today,” Tuggle said.
Five people lived in the house, but only three were there at the time of the fire, Tuggle said. Two escaped the blaze on their own and were taken to Community Regional for treatment of smoke inhalation.
“Unfortunately the victim was in the room of (the fire’s) origin at the time,” Tuggle said. “They were likely dead long before we got there.”
Other occupants of the house told fire investigators that the house didn’t have an smoke detectors. “One guy told us it was the smell of the smoke that woke him up.”
The victim “was likely overcome by smoke inhalation and then suffered severe burns,” Tuggle said.
The identity of the victim hasn’t been confirmed; investigators are tracking down the two residents who weren’t home at the time.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the home.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Tuggle said it did not appear to be suspicious.
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