SACRAMENTO, Calif. (PSN) — Firefighters responded to a two-story structure fire early Thursday morning on the 3600 block of Rio Loma Way. Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy fire conditions on both floors, making entry extremely challenging.

Captain Justin Sylvia, Public Information Officer for the Sacramento Fire Department, provided an update on the situation. "When crews arrived, they had heavy fire conditions from not only the first floor, but the second floor. Tried to push in, [but it was] a very difficult firefight," he explained. "Upstairs there's exposed joists on the ground. Very spongy floors. So access was very difficult, especially trying to make it up that second floor on the interior stairwell."

During the firefight, crews located a body at the back of the house. Sylvia said, "We have located a body at this point in the back of the house. Possibly came from the second floor all the way down." Although reports indicated an elderly female lived in the home alone, Sylvia noted that the sex of the individual could not be immediately determined due to the extensive damage to the body.

The fire caused significant destruction, with most of the house severely burned, while the garage remained largely intact "We have investigators enroute to determine the cause and origin the best that they can."

Firefighters deployed multiple hose lines and conducted a "transitional attack" by fighting the fire from the exterior, allowing them to gain access. Sylvia said, "Very heavy firefight for our crews tonight."

Investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire. "There's a lot of contributing factors that we need to take into account on this one," Sylvia said.

Sylvia also emphasized the importance of working smoke detectors, particularly in light of the tragic event. "The only safety message is have working smoke detectors," he advised. "That's something that maybe could have alerted this individual to get out a little bit quicker."

No reports of hoarding or structural construction were made, but the fire's intensity may complicate efforts to determine if these factors contributed to the severity of the blaze. Sylvia cautioned that further assessment is needed once the fire is fully extinguished.

Fire crews remained on the scene, ensuring the fire was completely out and checking for hotspots. "We're just waiting on the investigators right now, checking for hotspots to make sure we have this fire extinguished," Sylvia concluded.

The fire's spread was contained to the single structure, with no significant wind conditions in the Sacramento area contributing to the blaze's control. Sylvia added, "We're not experiencing any heavy wind events like they are in Southern California."

The investigation into the cause of the fire continues, and authorities will work to confirm the identity of the victim and notify next of kin.
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