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Friday, December 24, 2021

UPDATED: Fatal Trinidad Fire Under Investigation

Posted By Kimberly Wear @kimberly_wear on Fri, Dec 24, 2021 at 12:10 PM

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division is investigating a Dec. 23 fatal fire that killed a woman who was in a trailer parked behind a residence on Teh-Pah Lane on the Trinidad Rancheria.

Fire personnel responded to the scene around 9:14 p.m. to find the trailer engulfed in flames and the woman was later found inside. Her name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, according to a news release.

“The cause and circumstances of the fire are undetermined at this time,” the HCSO release states.

According to a release from the Trinidad Rancheria, the woman is believed to be a of the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that are impacted by this tragedy. The Tribal Council fully supports the Sheriff ’s Office investigation into the situation and will assist however we can. In our small community, we care for one another and tragedies like this impact all of us,” said Tribal Chair Garth Sundberg in the release.

An autopsy is being scheduled. According to the release, the sheriff’s office is investing the fire in coordination with CalFire.

Read the full HCSO release below:

On Dec. 23, 2021, at about 9:14 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Teh-Pah Lane, on the Trinidad Rancheria, for a death investigation.

According to fire personnel, a travel trailer behind the main residence of the property had reportedly become engulfed in flames. While working to suppress the fire, fire crews located a deceased adult female inside.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division was dispatched to investigate. Sheriff’s Investigators are working in coordination with CAL FIRE to investigate this incident. The cause and circumstances of the fire are undetermined at this time.

An autopsy of the victim to determine cause of death is in the process of being scheduled. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Read the Trinidad Rancheria release below:

On the evening of December 23, 2021, a house fire was reported on the 800 block of Teh-Pah Lane Drive, south of the City of Trinidad and on Trinidad Rancheria Trust Property.

Multiple fire department units were dispatched to the location, where a person was reportedly trapped inside. Once the fire was extinguished a female victim was located inside.

That woman, whose name has yet to be released to the media, was believed to be a member of the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that are impacted by this tragedy. The Tribal Council fully supports the Sheriff ’s Office investigation into the situation and will assist however we can. In our small community, we care for one another and tragedies like this impact all of us,” said Garth Sundberg, Tribal Chairman.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff ’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff ’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.