1 Killed, 4 Displaced In East County House Fire

EL CAJON, CA — A woman was killed in a house fire Friday in San Diego's East County, authorities said.

The blaze sparked around 1 a.m. in the 1700 block of N. First St. in the unincorporated area of El Cajon, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

Four residents were outside and told firefighters that a woman might still be inside the home, Detective Dan Wilson said.

"Firefighters conducted a rescue operation, entered the burning home and quickly began looking for the woman," Wilson said. "They found her in a bedroom. She was severely burned and was pronounced dead at the scene."

The identity of the woman, described as elderly, was not released.

Detectives from the department's bomb and arson unit were investigating the cause of the fire.

"The fire was determined to have started in the bedroom where the victim was found," Wilson said. "The cause of the fire is still under investigation. However, the fire does not appear to be suspicious."