Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Tragic Fire Claims Three Lives in Cathedral City, California

A devastating fire at the former Elks Lodge in Cathedral City, California, has resulted in the loss of three lives. The blaze, which occurred in the 67000 block of E. Palm Canyon Drive, claimed the life of 46-year-old Philip Pape, who has been positively identified by the Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau. Authorities are still working to identify the other two victims, a man and a woman, whose bodies were found after the fire was extinguished.

Details of the Incident

The fire was reported at 7:05 a.m. near the Canyon Plaza Shopping Center, with officers arriving to find the building engulfed in flames. Despite their efforts to enter the building, the heavy smoke and flames prevented them from doing so. Cathedral City firefighters eventually managed to enter the building and rescue two individuals, providing emergency medical aid. Tragically, one of the individuals succumbed to their injuries on the scene.

Discovery of Additional Victims

After the flames were extinguished, firefighters conducted another search of the building and made a grim discovery. Two additional individuals were found deceased inside the building, bringing the total number of casualties to three. The names of these victims have not yet been released.

Cause of the Fire

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Cathedral City Police Department. The building, which was nearly 18,000 square feet in size, was listed for sale on Zillow for over $3.5 million. The tragic incident has left the community in shock and mourning as they await further details from the authorities.

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