POCATELLO — Police and firefighters responding to a mobile home fire Tuesday night made a gruesome discovery.
A woman was found dead inside the burning residence. Authorities told the Idaho State Journal Wednesday that her death is being investigated as part of a suspicious criminal investigation.
The fire was reported around 8 p.m. by neighbors at the mobile home park at 1935 S. Fifth Ave. near Idaho State University. The park contains several motorhomes and RVs that have been converted into more permanent residences.
Firefighters arrived first and observed visible flames at the rear of the camper, with the interior full of smoke. The first arriving engine had the flames extinguished within minutes before a second engine arrived.
Once inside, firefighters quickly determined the woman was deceased and left the interior as untouched as possible before exiting and contacting law enforcement.
The woman was the home’s only occupant when authorities arrived and no other injuries were reported. Her name has not been released.
Investigators from both the police and fire departments are working to determine the cause of the fire and the woman’s death. Authorities said that they are treating the death as suspicious as part of a criminal investigation until it has been determined no crime was committed.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday in Ada County. Authorities said it could take at least four to six weeks to receive the final report.
Police blocked off multiple entrances to the mobile home park and reduced traffic on South Fifth Avenue to one lane. Those closures remained in place until all police investigators and fire officials left the scene around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.