One person is dead and another injured following a two-alarm fire early Tuesday morning in Lucerne Valley. San Bernardino County Fire received the first report of the fire, in the 9800 block of Mesa Road, about 4:30 a.m. Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and fire involving 50 percent of the 1,400-square foot house. An elderly man was outside the home, suffering from smoke inhalation. From him, firefighters learned that an elderly woman was trapped inside the home. During the attack, the home’s roof collapsed over the suspected room of origin. After knocking down the flames, firefighters went inside the home to find hoarder conditions, which contributed to the spread of the blaze and slowed their progression. Firefighters found the body of the woman in the bedroom, as well as a dozen dead cats. The county coroner’s office has not yet released the identity of the woman. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
