Thunderbird Farms fire victim identified

1243

Using dental records, the victim from Tuesday morning’s fatal fire in Thunderbird Farms has been positively identified as 79-year-old Jose M. Nazareno, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

Nazareno’s 76-year-old wife was able to escape using a second floor exit after her husband woke her and alerted her of the fire. He went downstairs where the fire originated to attempt to put it out but wasn't seen again.

The cause of the blaze is still unknown, said PCSO spokesman Elias Johnson.

The fire broke out about 3:35 a.m. Monday in an old church converted into a residence in the 49200 block of West Mayer Boulevard. Nazareno’s body was not recovered until 10:15 a.m.

Johnson said Monday the structure burned “fast and hot to the point when we got there minutes later there was no way to get into the house.”