Fire Investigation – Unincorporated La Mesa 

July 9, 2023 - San Diego County Sheriff’s Department officials report that the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is investigating a deadly fire in the unincorporated area of La Mesa.

It happened on Saturday, July 8 around 12:15 p.m. in the 9100 block of Lavell Street. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department received calls of smoke coming from behind a house on Lavell Street.

Deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station arrived and found the house on fire. They also found a woman who was able to get out of the home. Deputies made entry and attempted to locate an elderly woman upstairs but were pushed back by smoke and flames.

Firefighters arrived and located the elderly woman upstairs. Unfortunately, she died from her injuries on scene. The woman who escaped the fire was later found to be the granddaughter of the victim. She was treated at the scene and released. No deputies or firefighters were injured.

The Medical Examiner's Office will identify the victim, as well as determine the cause and manner of death once her family has been notified.

Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Detectives responded to the scene to determine the origin and cause of the fire. The investigation is ongoing.

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