A late-night house fire in Patterson is now at the center of a suspected arson investigation after firefighters discovered a resident inside once the flames were brought under control, officials said. The blaze tore through a home in a west Stanislaus County neighborhood late Sunday, leaving one person dead and triggering a multi-agency response. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the victim as the probe into what sparked the fire continues.
According to a press release, units from the Patterson Fire Department, CAL FIRE and the Stanislaus County Fire Investigation Unit responded after a battalion chief diverted from another call and reached the scene at about 9:50 PM, City of Patterson officials said. Fire crews mounted an aggressive attack and searched accessible portions of the home, but intense flames and unsafe conditions kept them from completing a full initial sweep. After firefighters knocked the fire down, they located an occupant inside; the city said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Local coverage identified the location as the 1100 block of Shearwater Drive and reported that mutual aid crews from neighboring fire districts were called in to assist. Neighbors told reporters they believed someone was still inside when firefighters arrived, and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office later confirmed one person had died. The first search crews could not reach all areas of the structure because of how heavily involved the fire was, KCRA reported.
Investigators treating blaze as suspicious
Stanislaus County fire investigators are treating the fire as suspicious and believe arson may be to blame. The Stanislaus County Fire Investigation Unit is working alongside the sheriff's office to determine how the fire started and whether criminal charges will follow. Officials have not announced any arrests.
How to share tips with investigators
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the fire to come forward and are offering a cash reward for useful tips, local outlets reported. Per reporting that quoted the investigation unit, tips can be submitted by texting "StanCS" to 738447, by calling 1-866-602-7463 or 209-521-4636, or online at stancrimetips.org; see AOL for details. Officials said anonymous tips are welcome and will still be reviewed by investigators.
A local backdrop of arson concerns
Arson is not uncommon in the area. Earlier this year, a Patterson man was convicted of setting an abandoned car wash on fire, a case that drew attention to the city's vulnerability to intentionally set blazes. That conviction, along with other regional arson cases, is part of why investigators are proceeding cautiously as they comb through the latest fire scene for evidence, The Modesto Bee reported.
