Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A tragic incident unfolded in Cathedral City, CA, as a 46-year-old man, Philip Pape, was positively identified as one of the victims in a devastating fire at the former Elks Lodge in the city.
The Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau confirmed the identity of Philip Pape, and his next of kin has been notified. The Cathedral City Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the blaze that claimed Pape’s life at the 67000 block of E. Palm Canyon Drive over the weekend.
Aside from Pape, the bodies of a woman and another man were discovered after the fire was extinguished, but they have not yet been identified by the coroner’s bureau.
The fire, which took place near the Canyon Plaza Shopping Center, was reported at 7:05 a.m. on Saturday. Upon arrival, officers found the building fully engulfed in flames, making it impossible for them to enter due to the heavy smoke and fire.
Firefighters from Cathedral City managed to enter the building and rescue two individuals, providing them with urgent medical care. Unfortunately, one of the individuals succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while the other was rushed to Eisenhower Medical Center in critical condition.
After the fire was contained, a search of the building revealed two additional bodies, both deceased. The names of these individuals have not been released pending further investigation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The property, a nearly 18,000-square-foot building listed for sale at over $3.5 million on Zillow, adds a layer of complexity to the tragic events that unfolded.
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