Santa Ana House Fire Kills 1, Injures 3
Christmas tree lights appear to have sparked a fire that killed one person, injured three others and gutted a house Monday night.
A coroner’s spokeswoman said the dead woman could not be immediately identified because her body was so badly burned.
A Fire Department spokesman said 22 people apparently lived in the three-bedroom house. Bars had been installed on all the windows, which might have prevented a safe escape from the fire, Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Skelly said.
A teen-age girl identified as Maria Sanchez was listed in serious condition at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. Two other victims were at UC Irvine Medical Center, their identities and conditions unknown.
Firefighters were called at 7:38 p.m. More than four dozen firefighters put out the flames by 8:15 p.m.
But by then, the one-story wood house was destroyed.
Fire officials would not confirm the source of the fire, but police and witnesses said it appeared to have started in a Christmas tree.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
