NBC 7’s Dave Summers spoke to tenants about the shocking tragedy.
At least one person is dead after a house fire in Mira Mesa on Friday, officials said.
Firefighters with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department responded to the blaze in the 11400 block of Eridanus Court at around 6:30 p.m., according to Officer Robert Heims of the San Diego Police Department.
Gia Vuong saw the fire and thick black smoke as he returned from a quick trip to Target.
"When I was pulling around the corner, I realized that was the house I was renting," Vuong said.
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Vuong is one of four tenants in the house. Their landlord, Thanh Nguyen, lives there with his wife and 5-year-old child, who were trying to tell him there was trouble.
"When I called back for the second time, 'Hey, I am almost home,' they said, 'The house is on fire. Get home,'“ Nguyen said.
His family and all but one tenant managed to escape.
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Firefighters said they saw fire shooting out of a second-floor bedroom in the back of the house when they arrived. They said they heard an explosion, but whether or not that was the cause is still being investigated.
A man in his 30s, identified by the landlord only as Justin, was renting that room. He was found dead by firefighters.
Nguyen said Justin returned home Friday after spending two months in hospital.
“I just feel lucky that most of us got out and feel bad for the guy because too much happened to him," Nguyen said. "He just came back from the hospital."
Vuong lived in the room across the hall. He said Justin needed a walker to get around.
"I’m still in shock," Vuong said. "I don’t know how to comprehend that. Wow. I never met the guy.”
Fire investigators say the home is now unlivable.
“I don’t know what to do with my other tenants," Nguyen said. "How to help them and how to help themselves."
The Metro Arson Strike Force is investigating. However, the battalion chief said for now nothing appears suspicious and that the fire was more likely an accident.