11.02.2021 | 7:26 PM | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – A woman was found dead inside a condominium after a fire broke out, Tuesday evening.
The fire was reported in a two-story condominium located in the 32100 block of Paseo Carolina shortly before 7:30 PM.
When units arrived on scene they located fire showing from the first floor of the building and learned of a woman with three cats possibly trapped on the second-floor.
Crews initiated an aggressive fire attack and worked to clear the home but were severely hampered by hoarding conditions, according to radio traffic.
Firefighters eventually made access to the second-floor of the building where they discovered an elderly female victim who was pronounced deceased on scene.
The blaze was contained in under an hour before it could spread to adjacent units but a total of 14 residents were ultimately displaced.
Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the deadly fire and the Red Cross is responding to assist the displaced residents.