Early Morning House Fire Kills 2 in Santa Ana

A raging fire ripped through a cluttered home, killing two people early Wednesday morning, fire officials said.

Neighbors awakened by the sound of an explosion shortly after 3 a.m. called 911, but authorities said firefighters, who had to navigate around debris in the packed house, were unable to save the two victims, who had been severely burned.

The bodies of a 31-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were found in the bedroom of the ranch-style home, authorities said. Their names were being withheld pending notification of relatives.

“We don’t know if they got trapped in the bedroom, or if they just never woke up,” Santa Ana Fire Capt. Randy Black said.

Black said a leaky gas line to the water heater may have sparked the blaze, which gutted the home.

The house was filled with collectibles and furniture, which helped fuel the blaze and made it difficult for firefighters to search for victims, he said.