2 people killed in fire in utility vault in Downtown Fresno, officials say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two people are dead after a fire in a bridge utility vault in Downtown Fresno.

It happened just before 8:30 am Monday at Fresno and H streets.

Investigators say several people from the unhoused community were seen coming in and out of the area shortly before the smoke was first reported.

Firefighters had to coordinate with PG&E to shut off the power to nearly 600 customers before entering the utility vault to try to put out the blaze.

Once they got inside, they began a primary search and came across a body.

"They pulled the person out, the patient was deceased and as they continued to go back inside to conduct a primary search, they found another victim who was also deceased," says Fresno Fire Chief Billy Alcorn.

Neither person has been identified yet.

Chief Alcorn says it appears the unhoused were trying to live in the vault and may have gained access to it by digging through the side of the bridge.

He adds crews will continue searching to ensure no one else was injured in the fire.

Chief Alcorn says this utility vault serves as a main distribution center to the downtown area, so several buildings went without power into the afternoon.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

For news and weather updates, follow Tiffany Olin on Facebook, X and Instagram.