Fire Investigation – Poway
June 20, 2023 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Department officials report that the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is investigating a structure fire in the City of 
Poway.
It happened on Saturday, June 17 just after 7:00 p.m. in the 16000 block of Martincoit Road. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department received calls about a house on fire. A neighbor first reported dark smoke coming from the house on Martincoit Road.
Deputies from the Poway Sheriff's Station arrived in less than five minutes and found the home fully engulfed in flames. Fire departments from Poway, San Diego, Escondido, Rancho Santa Fe, as well as San Diego County Fire all responded to the two-alarm fire. Several nearby homes were evacuated. Witnesses reported seeing a woman run back into the house.
Detectives from the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit were called to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. It took firefighters several hours to knock down the flames. As investigators began their investigation of the split-level home, it was deemed too dangerous to enter as the floor had become structurally unsafe.
Shortly after 11:30 p.m., a woman emerged from the bottom level of the home. She was taken to a hospital. The 68-year-old was treated for minor scrapes and held for a mental health evaluation. She had been living in the home after it was recently condemned by the city and sold. City officials and the Sheriff's Department have been working with the new owner to remove anyone from the home. The public is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Department if they see any suspicious activity or trespassers at the residence.
The Poway Fire Department kept personnel on scene overnight monitoring the home and knocking down hot spots. The house is considered to be a total loss.
Detectives believe the fire could have been started by an unattended candle. The Sheriff's Department urges the public to monitor lit candles closely and keep them away from anything that may catch fire.
The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is a regional resource that investigates fires involving suspicious circumstances, serious injuries, and death.
Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
