Second Body Found In Sandalwood Fire As Acreage Grows

CALIMESA, CA — As firefighters worked for the third day on the deadly and destructive blaze known as the Sandalwood Fire in Calimesa, the estimated size increased to 1,011 acres and containment has grown. What's more, officials say the body of a second victim was found late Friday at the fire-ravaged mobile home park near Interstate 10 where one other victim was previously found, according to the sheriff's department.

The coroner's office was working to identify this latest victim, whose age and gender were not immediately known, according to Riverside County sheriff's officials.

The initial fatality was 89-year-old Lois Arvickson, who lived in the mobile home park and who, her son told reporters, was on the phone with him, preparing to get in her car and leave when the line suddenly cut out.

As of Saturday night, the Riverside County Fire Department said the fire was 1,011 acres and was 68 percent contained.

The fire was sparked after a trash truck dropped a smoldering load near Interstate 10 and Sandalwood just before 2 p.m. Thursday, according to fire officials. The fire quickly spread to nearby brush, traveled through a nearby canyon and set homes ablaze at the Villa Calimesa Mobile Home Park. Within just hours, the park was decimated. By nightfall, more than 70 homes were a total loss.

At the scene of the mobile home park on Thursday, fire officials say they assisted with "numerous medical emergencies." It wasn't until later in the evening that they discovered Arvickson had been killed in the inferno, as well.

As of Friday afternoon, officials said a total 76 structures were destroyed. Another nine had moderate damage and 5 had minor damage.

"As of right now, we are trying to contain the fire within the control lines that we've established," Cal Fire officials said at a press conference Friday afternoon. "As with yesterday, we're being challenged with the weather and the wind. We're still concerned with the spotting potential... We're also competing with the resources we have right now due to all the other fire activity that's going on in Southern California."

SEE ALSO: PHOTOS: Calimesa Fire Devastates Community: 74 Structures, 800 Acres Lost

County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt, who previously served as the city's mayor, called it "a very, very difficult day for Riverside County and Calimesa."

"This fire has caused extensive damage to the community, and we have lost life," he said. "My heart goes out to the community, and our thoughts are especially with the grieving relatives."

Hewitt said the county Emergency Management Department has issued an emergency proclamation, which the Board of Supervisors is slated to ratify during a special session next Thursday morning to enable the county to apply for immediate state and federal aid.

Mandatory evacuation orders remained in place for residents of the Villa Calimesa Mobile Home Park but were lifted at 1 p.m. Saturday for the area north of the mobile home park. Authorities said residents returning home should use County Line Road as Seventh Street was shut down between Sandalwood Drive and County Line Road.

SEE ALSO: VIDEO: Man Captures Moments Before Truck Ignited Sandalwood Fire

"That road closure will be in place for quite some time because of the investigation," Sheriff Chad Bianco said on Friday, adding that deputies were providing security around evacuated properties to prevent looting.

As for possible charges related to the trash that sparked the fire, Bianco said it's too early to tell what will happen. He said that deputies are conducting a death investigation, so the area will remain closed to the public.

"We are working now with arson investigators from the fire department and our central homicide unit to determine whether or not there will be any criminal culpability in this fire," he said. "We've identified the cause, obviously, but we're still investigating whether or not there will be any type of criminal charges pending."

— City News Service contributed to this report