NORTH FORK — A fire that started in the pre-dawn hours Saturday morning in a North Fork mobile home has claimed a life, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.
“I can confirm that a deceased individual was discovered at the burned residence,” said MCSO spokesperson Kayla Serratto. “Detectives were called out to the scene. Identification and official cause of death will be determined following an autopsy.”
The early morning fire gutted a mobile home on Willow Creek Drive behind the North Fork Christian Center — and also sparked a power outage for about 1,000 local PG&E customers as far away as O’Neals.
Neighbors at the fire scene said they heard screams coming from the house after the fire broke out.
Multiple engines from CAL FIRE responded to the call, which came in about 5:30 a.m.
The fire also caused power lines to fall around the property, causing a localized power outage — and making it extremely dangerous for firefighters battling the blaze.
The mobile home was completely destroyed but the fire did not spread to any surrounding properties.
Willow Creek Drive remained cordoned off with yellow “caution” tape Saturday.
Investigators said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A statement posted on MCSO’s Facebook page read: “Around 5:40 a.m., deputies responded to a call for service for a residential fire in the 33000 block of Willow Creek Drive in North Fork. Deputies arrived on scene and immediately began evacuating residents in the area. Madera County Fire and CALFIRE personnel contained the fire to 3 structures, one of which was a complete loss… If anyone has information relating to this case, please contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 675-7770.”
*Sarah Jackson contributed to this report.
