SLO woman dies after home catches fire

April 21, 2015

Firefighters pulled a woman out of a burning San Luis Obispo home Monday afternoon, but the victim died after arriving at the hospital. [KSBY]

The fire occurred at a house located at 125 South Tassajara Street. San Luis Obispo firefighters responded at 1:47 p.m. and arrived at the scene within three minutes.

After struggling to get inside the home, firefighters found the woman in a corner bedroom and brought her to an ambulance waiting outside. The ambulance transported her to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center.

The victim was in extremely critical condition when she arrived at the emergency room.

Witnesses of the fire told KSBY that, upon seeing the smoke, they tried to break into the house to save the woman. But, the front door was barricaded, and the windows and side gate were taped shut.

Neighbor Ann Neuman said that her husband and she had been in the house before, and the woman who lived there had a lot of boxes and furniture next to the front door.

San Luis Obispo Fire Chief Garret Olson said it was difficult for firefighters to break into the house because there was a lot of debris inside the home.

Authorities have not yet released the name of the victim, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Neighbors said the woman owned cats and a dog, but fire officials said they have not found the animals.

Firefighters gained control of the fire within 10 minutes of arrival. The damage to the home and belongings is estimated to be more than $150,000.