Fresno County twice cited property owner for clutter at home where 2 died in fire

A property owner in central Fresno was cited twice in 2019 for violations before a fire erupted and killed two adults and left four children in critical condition Tuesday.

But investigators believe massive debris in the home’s yard didn’t directly lead to the deaths.

The property owner, identified as Phannait Sor, had not responded to the citations, which found that numerous cars, motorcycles, tires, bricks, wood fencing and other debris on the property were in violation of code, according to James Anders, a senior planner for Fresno County.

Efforts to reach Sor were unsuccessful.

Fire Investigator Andy Isolano of the North Central Fire District said the debris slowed firefighting efforts at the home located near North Harrison Avenue and East Sussex Way in a county island. But Isolano said he did not believe the clutter contributed to the deaths and injuries at the fire scene, because firefighters were able to make their way through the junk to help victims escape.

Nicholas Rodriguez, 31, a father of four, was killed in the fire. Patricia Rodriguez, 24, died Tuesday afternoon of injuries she suffered in the blaze. They are not related, said Fresno County Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti.

The four children were expected to survive. Another adult, identified by Botti as Nicholas Rodriguez’s wife, was in stable condition.

The fire left the home a total wreck after the roof collapsed.

Anders said the property owner received a notice of violation in November 2018. A citation for noncompliance was issued in March 2019, and a second was issued in July 2019. The fines totaled $370. Anders said he didn’t know whether county officials issued a citation in response to complaints by neighbors or a county inspector noticed the junk.

Isolano, the fire investigator, said the clutter on the outside of the house was matched by debris on the inside. Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives and fire officials initially investigated the fire as a possible crime, but determined the cause was accidental or undetermined. Isolano said investigators seeking the source of the fire were alerted to the smell of gasoline in the living room area of the home, but it was possible that the odor was simply tracked inside on the shoes of an occupant.

This story was originally published December 19, 2019 at 10:03 AM.