1 Killed In Deadly House Explosion In Fontana
FONTANA (CBS) — Investigators on Friday sought to determine what may have sparked an explosion at a Fontana home that left one resident dead and a neighborhood shaken by the blast.
As many as forty firefighters from San Bernardino County, Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga responded to a call shortly after 9:15 p.m. on Thursday night in the 14400 block of Southwood Drive after several explosions were reported.
Crews had the blaze out within a little over a half-hour after their arrival, but they were unable to save the sole occupant in the residence.
CBS2's Kara Finnstrom reports the coroner's office has confirmed the victim is a male in his 50s and a Fontana resident, but so far have not released his identity.
Arson investigators have already labeled the fire as "suspicious" after finding the garage door had been blown off by the force of the blasts and thrown about 40 feet into the cul de sac.
Neighbors said a family with at least one child lived in the home, but firefighters said there were no other injuries reported.
One neighbor recalled hearing the blast when it happened.
"I was just watching TV and then all of a sudden, I just hear an explosion," said resident Jose Delgadillo. "At first I thought it was an earthquake or something fell, you know a tree or something."
"I go outside and I see the whole house is on fire," he added.
Some neighboring families evacuated as fire crews worked to put out the flames.
Officials with the San Bernardino County Fire Department along with the San Bernardino County sheriff's arson bomb team are continuing to investigate the fire.
