MENDOCINO Co., 12/13/16 — Tragedy struck the Mendocino coast early this morning when a structure fire in Manchester resulted in the death of two young children. At around 1:40am residents of a home on Biaggi Lane in Manchester awoke to find their house on fire. Most of the family managed to get out, but after jumping and crawling to safety, they could not locate two little girls.
Firefighters arrived, but by that time the house was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters from the Redwood Coast Fire Department attempted the enter the structure and put out the fire. South Coast Fire, Timber Cove Fire, Elk Fire and CalFire also participated, as did ambulances from Coast Life Support District.
The remains of the children have not been located. Investigators from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office are looking into the cause of the fire, with assistance from the State Fire Marshall’s Office and CalFire.
We will continue to update as more information becomes avaliable. The following press release is from the MCSO:
DATE: “December 13, 2016”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Incident Number: 2016-38133
Crime/Incident: Residential Structure Fire
Location: 45000 block Biaggi Lane, Manchester , Ca.
Date of Incident: 12-13-2016
Time: 1:46 AM
Victim(s):
Suspect(s):
Written By: Lieutenant Greg Stefani
Synopsis: On 12-13-2016, at about 1:40 AM, a member of a family residing at a residence on Biaggi Lane in Manchester awoke to the sound of smoke alarms sounding. He found the residence was filled with smoke, and on fire and alerted other sleeping family. Some family members were able to get onto the roof and jump to safety,while others were able to crawl out. Once outside of the residence, which was now fully engulfed in flame, the family could not locate two children, who were believed to still be in the house. Due to the complete involvement of the structure by fire, re-entry was impossible.
911 was called and members of the Redwood Coast Fire Department arrived to find the house engulfed in flame. They immediately began attempting to enter the residence and extinguish the flame. South Coast Fire, North Coast Fire, Timber Cove Fire, Elk Fire, and Calfire, along with ambulances of the Coast Life Support District also responded with personnel and equipment.
The fire was extinguished and Mendocino County Sheriff’s Investigators, assisted by investigators from The State Fire Marshall’s Office and CALFIRE are currently investigating the incident.
It is believed two children perished in the fire, and the search of the remains of the structure is underway.Approved by: Lieutenant Greg Stefani
