A house fire on Pedro Aguirre Cerda Street in the commune of Negrete claimed the life of a 74-year-old man during the early hours of Monday. The blaze also spread to a neighboring, unoccupied property, which was completely destroyed.
Carabineros officers arrived at the scene following an emergency call to the communications center. Upon arrival, they found that the flames had already gutted the main structure of the building.
Emergency responders discovered the charred remains of a 74-year-old man inside the home. Preliminary reports indicate the victim was a local resident who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
Investigation underway to determine cause of fire
The victim's family stated that neighbors were the first to notice the flames and alert authorities. However, the fire spread so rapidly that rescue efforts for the elderly man were impossible.
Volunteers from the Negrete Fire Department deployed two units to contain the blaze. The fire eventually reached a second home, which was completely destroyed by the flames.
At the direction of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Los Ángeles Investigative Police (PDI) arrived at the scene. Experts from the Homicide Brigade and the Criminalistics Laboratory (Labocar) have begun collecting evidence at the site.
Investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the fire and to confirm whether any third parties were involved. The Legal Medical Service (SML) will handle the recovery of the body and perform the necessary autopsy.
Carabineros are maintaining a perimeter around the area as technical forensics continue to investigate the circumstances of the tragedy.
