CARLSBAD (CBS 8) - An elderly woman died in a house fire in Carlsbad Tuesday night.
Carlsbad firefighters say the fire started around 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night in the 2300 block of Caringa Way.
Crews say when they arrived on the scene a woman in her late 70's was inside the home unresponsive. Firefighters tried life-saving measures on the woman but she was pronounced dead on the scene.
"It's really sad to see especially someone coming out like that,” said neighbor Nathan Mandeoenis.
Investigators are working to find out what caused the fire and where it started in the home. Neighbors tell CBS News 8 the woman was a hoarder and she recently had a garage sale.
“I think maybe she was trying to clear things out and she had been trying for quite a while,” said neighbor Monty Herron.
Carlsbad Division Fire Chief Mike Lopez says the environment in the home made it difficult for them to attack the fire, “We were met with some resistance and that was the heavy combustibles trying to get in."
The woman has not been identified.
Four families living on either side of the fire were impacted and not allowed in their home until further notice.
Vista, San Marcos and Encinitas Fire Departments responded to the scene.