Suspected squatter found dead in Tacoma house fire
TACOMA - The Pierce County Medical Examiner is investigating what may have killed a person, found dead in a vacant house fire in Tacoma. Tacoma Fire Dept batallion chief Jim Zuluaga said that the fire was reported around 5 a.m. Sunday. Firefighters quickly arrived at the house, in the 2100 block of South J Street, which was supposed to be unoccupied. Upon entry, firefighters became concerned that they might be dealing with hazardous materials in the fire, Zuluaga said.
When the fire was determined not to be hazardous, firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, and then found the body. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's office is not saying if the body is that of an adult man or woman. An autopsy will be performed and the identity of the victim will be released, possibly on Monday.
The cause of the fire and the damage estimate are still under investigation.