Apartment fire in Clovis leaves woman dead, 4 police officers injured

One woman died and four police officers were injured after an apartment caught fire in Clovis, Calif., early Friday, authorities said.

The blaze broke out just before 2 a.m. near the woman’s bedroom, said Clovis’ deputy fire chief John Binafki.

See more of our top stories on Facebook >>

Four police officers arrived before firefighters and rushed in and pulled the elderly woman out of the first-floor apartment, Binafki said.

The officers all suffered smoke inhalation and were briefly hospitalized. The woman was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Binafki said.

The fire caused an estimated $450,000 in damages to the 22-unit apartment building and its contents, he said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.

ALSO

San Diego scuba diver dies in New Mexico underwater cave accident

Nude woman, found in the street, was stabbed about 24 times, police say

Deputies search for hammer-wielding attacker who sent two people to the hospital in East L.A.