Human remains found after 'suspicious' fire at Temecula senior facility

TEMECULA, Calif. (KABC) -- Human remains were found Monday morning after a "suspicious" fire was extinguished at a senior-care facility in an unincorporated area of Temecula, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said.

The blaze broke out about 5 a.m. at a single-story residential location, described by neighbors as a assisted-living facility for seniors, in the 41400 block of Cruz Way, according to Cal Fire and the county fire department.

Twenty-two firefighters responded to the blaze, which was contained in just over an hour.

Human remains were found inside the burned-out structure, authorities said, but it was unclear how many people died in the fire.

After the fire broke out, a neighbor was able to wake up and help a couple that lives on the property. The woman wanted to then run back inside the burning building to help others.

"He had to hold back the wife of the couple because she wanted to run in and try to save the people that were still in there," said neighbor Destiny Owsley. "He had to hold her back, because she probably would've died."

Sheriff's homicide detectives were assisting Cal Fire arson investigators at the scene.

While the sheriff's office called the fire suspicious in nature, they said it could be some time before they are able to determine a cause.