EL CAJON—Six people were left without a home after a Monday night blaze destroyed their El Cajon residence.
At 11:49 p.m., Heartland Fire and Rescue responded to reports of a structure fire at a board and care facility located at 1460 E. Lexington Avenue. Fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the facility.
Fire crews pulled an unconscious 68 year-old female from a bedroom, and immediately began CPR. Another victim, suffering from smoke inhalation, was assisted out of the structure by one of the co-tenants. Both victims were transported to the Regional Burn Center at UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest.
The blaze was distinguished in 15 minutes.
A total of four adults and two children were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the American Red Cross. Damage to the structure and contents has been estimated at $100,000.
Following a joint investigation by Heartland Fire Rescue, El Cajon Police, and the Sheriff’s Bomb and Arson Task Force, the cause of Monday night’s fire was caused by a malfunctioning wall heater in the living room that ignited a nearby couch.
