An early morning blaze that ripped through a home in the unincorporated area of El Cajon has left one elderly woman dead, as fire officials seek answers to the fire's origins. Authorities were alerted to the fire around 1:00 a.m. Friday, when a distressed call came through reporting the house, located on the 1700 block of North First Street, was ablaze.

Fighting through smoke and flames, firefighters from San Miguel, Lakeside, Santee, and Heartland Fire Departments, as well as deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff's Substation, responded promptly to the scene. Upon arrival, they were confronted by a fully engulfed structure and the grim news that an elderly female might be trapped inside, provided by four residents who had managed to escape.

A rescue operation quickly ensued, with fire crews braving the inferno and locating the victim in a bedroom. The woman, found severely burned, was pronounced dead at the scene. "She was found in a bedroom," reported the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The bedroom where the woman was located was also where the fire is believed to have originated. The cause of the fire, presently under investigation by detectives from the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit, has not been deemed suspicious at this time.

The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit, a regional task force known for handling fires with potential foul play, serious injuries, or fatalities, is leading the probe. According to a statement released by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the unit was summoned to the grisly scene to examine the cause and origination point of the fire. They confirmed that the fire does not appear to be the result of suspicious circumstances.

Residents looking for more information or who may have insights into the incident have been directed to contact Detective Dan Wilson from the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit. The investigation into the tragic event is ongoing, with local authorities working to piece together the final moments that led to this fatal fire.