2 People Killed, 3 Injured In Murrieta Mobile Home Fire

MURRIETA, CA — A mobile home fire in Murrieta early Saturday killed two people and multiple pets, authorities confirmed.

The blaze was reported at 4:42 a.m. in the 41000 block of Knight Drive. The area is on the west side of Interstate 15, near Old Town Murrieta.

When Murrieta Fire & Rescue crews arrived on scene, they found a mobile home, a carport, three vehicles, two outbuildings, and a large pine tree fully engulfed in flames, the agency reported.

Firefighters attacked the blaze while simultaneously searching the burning structure for trapped residents. Despite the efforts, "the building's structural integrity was rapidly compromised, forcing firefighters to transition to a defensive firefighting operation," according to Murrieta Fire & Rescue.

Five people were inside the home at the time of the fire. Three of the occupants were rescued and sent to a local hospital, though the extent of their injuries was unclear.

Two other occupants were found dead inside the home, and "multiple household pets perished in the blaze," according to the fire department.

The identities of the deceased were not released as of Saturday evening.

The fire was knocked down within approximately 45 minutes.

Murrieta Fire & Rescue and the Murrieta Police Department are investigating the cause of the fire.