El Cajon–An elderly woman died in a structure fire at an apartment complex in El Cajon early Thursday morning.
El Cajon Heartland Fire and Rescue crews, assisted by crews from San Miguel Fire, Santee Fire and Lakeside Fire, were dispatched at 12:30 a.m. to reports of an apartment building on fire in the 1500 block of Gustavo Street.
Fire crews arrived within seven minutes to discover a two story apartment unit with the first floor well involved with fire. Fire crews were able to control the fire within five minutes. The blaze did not extend onto the second floor.
The woman was discovered unconscious near a back door of the apartment. First responders performed CPR on the victim and she was transported to the hospital in critical condition. She subsequently succumbed to her injuries.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. There were no firefighter injuries reported. Estimated damage for the structure and contents is estimated at $100,000.
