Man discovered inside home after fire; “By no means is this case closed,” police say

MANILA, Calif. (KIME) – Emergency personnel were called out to a structure fire on Friday on the 100-block of Carlson Drive in Manila. It was later discovered a man was inside.

According to Public Information Specialist Samantha Karges with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were on scene.

“Deputies arrived on scene and they located firefighters fighting the fire at a travel trailer on the property,” said Karges.

Arcata Fire Districts Battalion Chief Sean Campbell said, their engine was first to arrive.

“And [crews] saw heavy fire in the back of a single-family residence but didn’t know what was on fire,” he said.

The officer on that engine accessed the fire and discovered an RV used as a residence up in flames, images captured by Mike Carlson showed the flames intensity.

Campbell says, four fire departments helped to get the fire under control in about 20 mins.

“They began to salvage over hall, the trailer was a complete loss. it burned 100 percent all the way down to the floor,” he said.

During the overhaul process – a body was discovered inside.

“The victim of the fire, male perished in the fire towards the back of the trailer,” said Campbell.

The victim’s identity remains unknown pending confirmation through the coroner’s office.

“Due to the condition we are unable to identify that person, it is believed that an individual was living in the trailer, but again we cannot confirm this due to their condition,” he said.

Karges says, for now the incident is being investigated as an accidental death.

“Again, it’s still under investigation and the cause has not been determined, we are absolutely accepting information that the public may have,” she said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or their tip line at (707) 268-2539, callers can remain anonymous.