News

A house blew up in Eureka at 7:10 a.m., killing one resident. This was at the corner of Allard and Glen, near the trailer park in Bayview/Pine Hill.

From the Eureka Fire Department:

The initial arriving EFD fire engine found the residence involved in fire, the street in front of the house littered with glass and the front door laying across the street in the gutter. Crews entered the well-involved structure and initiated fire control and search efforts simultaneously. Within the first few moments of the blaze, a second alarm was initiated which resulted in "all" on-duty Eureka & Humboldt fire crews responding to the scene and Arcata Fire Dept providing coverage for additional calls during the suppression efforts. During the search effort, a single victim was located and it was determined that they had succumbed prior to being located by fire personnel. Fire units remain on scene working with members of the Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County Coroner's Office in an effort to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

The Corner's office will be handling identification and family notification for EFD.

Explosive experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are on their way from the Bay Area to assist in the investigation.

Eureka Fire Chief Eric Smith tells the Journal's Heidi Walters that his department has not found any evidence of criminal activity at this point.