A devastating midday fire at a mobile-home park in Santee has left a woman seriously injured, displaced her and another resident, and tragically resulted in the loss of at least one pet cat.
The blaze ignited around noon in the 10000 block of Buena Vista Avenue, located just north of state Route 52 and west of Cottonwood Avenue, according to the Santee Fire Department. Upon arrival, firefighters were informed by bystanders that a resident might still be inside the burning trailer home.
Entering the smoke-filled and cluttered structure, crews quickly located an unconscious elderly woman. They performed CPR at the scene before paramedics transported her to a hospital for further medical care, stated Santee Fire Chief Justin Matsushita.
Inside the residence, firefighters encountered numerous cats—estimates from neighbors ranged between seven to 20 felines. Despite efforts to rescue them, at least one cat perished in the fire, while some others managed to survive, Matsushita confirmed.
Following the blaze, the American Red Cross was enlisted to assist the displaced residents of the severely damaged mobile home in arranging emergency shelter.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire, Matsushita added, as authorities work to piece together the events that led to this tragic incident in the Santee community.
