Retirement community fire victims identified as grandmother, grandson
The two people who died in a fire at a Fresno retirement community have been identified as a 66-year-old woman and her grandson.
A spokesperson for the Fresno County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Rita Avila and Joseph Irelan, 22.
Authorities responded to reports of a fire at Willow Court near Willow and Butler avenues at about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday.
In addition to Avila and Irelan, three cats and a dog died in the fire.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation, and authorities haven’t announced the victims’ exact cause of death.
Nick Fenley
The Fresno Bee