Man, woman found dead in fire at Willow Retirement Community in southeast Fresno, officials say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A man and woman were found dead inside a retirement community Tuesday morning after a fire broke out in one of the units.

The apartment residents woke up to the tragic news, many now left distraught.

Fresno police investigators have now told Action News they have ruled out foul play in connection with the blaze that took two lives.

"I think it's very sad. They're not my family, but I can feel it," says Tamika, Care Taker at Willow Court Retirement Community.

Firefighters responded to the Willow Court Retirement Community at around 8 am.

Fresno Fire says it sparked inside a unit. When they arrived, they discovered a man and a woman, four cats and a dog dead inside, and the fire was nearly extinguished.

"The fire was already very minimal with fire conditions. It's not common, but it's not impossible. Sometimes those incidents do occur," says Josh Sellers with the Fresno Fire Department.

Fresno Fire and Fresno Police investigators were on scene for hours gathering evidence that could lead them to a cause.

The fire started in the living room. Authorities say it did extend to the attic, and no other units were impacted.

"Fire investigators have a very specific methodology at pinpointing and identifying areas of origin where a fire started, and then they will start to find what could've caused that initial ignition," says Sellers.

Officials say smoke alarms did go off in the building, but they received the initial call from someone who smelled the smoke.

The apartment where the fire started was occupied at the time. Neighbors of the senior community are full of emotions, and they tell us a well-known resident lived there.

This blaze, now taking a toll.

"We see death enough as it is. There are a lot of people at the senior complex. A lot of people pass away," says resident Robert Blanton.

The coroner's office is doing an autopsy on the two victims to uncover the cause of their deaths. Their identities have yet to be released at this time.

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