UPDATED: LAKE ELSINORE: Officials identify victims killed in Monday’s residential fire

UPDATED: Friday, Feb. 2, 8:30 p.m.

LAKE ELSINORE — Officials have identified two people who died in an early morning house fire last Monday, Jan 29. The pair died in a fire that erupted at a home on the 100 block of S. Massachusetts Street, southeast of the intersection of Grand and Broadway Avenues, in Lake Elsinore. Fire investigators are still working to determine the cause of the deadly blaze.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified 66-year-old, Luz Heredia and 34-year-old, Daniel Heredia as the two who died in the fatal fire. Officials have not released how or if the two were related.

Lake Elsinore Police and Fire officials along with other emergency first responders were dispatched to the home about 6:10 a.m., after receiving reports of flames and smoke seen pouring from the residence.

Thirty-four firefighters from eight engine companies and one truck Company responded to the deadly blaze, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokesperson Jody Hagemann explained in an incident report. They were assisted by a Breathing Support Unit.

“The first arriving engine company reported heavy smoke and fire visible from the west side of the two-story home,” said Newman. “Additional resources were requested due to the threat of fire spreading to adjacent structures in windy conditions.”

While firefighters battled the fire, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Police Station provided traffic control to keep area residents from interfering with fire suppression efforts.

After the residents were found deceased inside the home, officials declared the residence and property a crime scene. Deputies cordoned off part of Massachusetts Avenue in front of the home, forcing some area residents to seek alternative routes to their homes inside the neighborhood.

Firefighters updated that they had knocked the fire down about 7:30 a.m., and fire Investigators were summoned to the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas Company employees responded to the scene to turn off utilities to the severely damaged residence. City of Lake Elsinore building inspectors were also summoned to the home to determine if the residence was still habitable.

Officials later estimated the fire loss at $385,000; however, according to Newman their efforts saved an additional $450,000 in property and personal belongings.

Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s officials at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number L180290010 and can remain anonymous.

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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.