Folsom police confirm discovery after fire and reported barricaded suspect drew massive emergency response.
FOLSOM — A day after flames ripped through a home in the American River Canyon neighborhood, investigators remained at 209 River Ridge Way Tuesday as the search for answers continued. The massive blaze that drew dozens of fire engines and law enforcement units on Monday night has left behind not only a gutted structure and rattled neighbors, but also tragedy: on Tuesday morning, Folsom Police confirmed that a deceased individual was found inside the home once the scene was secured and safe to enter. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office will release the person’s identity at a later time.
The charred remains of the residence stood behind barricades and police tape Tuesday morning as neighbors gathered on the closed street to look on. Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office worked alongside fire, police and even Folsom Building Department officials to determine if the home was stable enough to allow crews to enter for a detailed search.
“This was a complex and tragic situation, and we appreciate the patience and cooperation of the community as we worked to ensure everyone’s safety,” said Folsom Police Public Information Officer Deidre McAulliff.
The first calls to Folsom police from the suburban American River Canyon neighborhood off American River Canyon Drive came just after 4:30 p.m. A person, potentially suicidal and possibly armed, had reportedly blocked themselves inside the house, turning the quiet street into a chaotic scene as patrol cruisers and SWAT teams in armored vehicles swarmed the block. Police officials warned people to stay clear of the area as they worked to establish a perimeter. At that point, there was no fire inside the home.
By 5:26 p.m., the situation escalated when Folsom Fire Department units arrived to find plumes of smoke pouring from the residence. Fire officials said Tuesday their plan of attack was complicated by the report of a barricaded subject inside. “Firefighters were updated that the residence was occupied by a barricaded and suicidal subject. This complicated the response and presented additional risks to the public,” said Nick Lawlor of the Folsom Fire Department. “A Unified Command was immediately established between the Folsom Fire and Police Departments to coordinate operations.”
McAulliff confirmed that officers worked throughout the evening with the support of a crisis counselor, making ongoing attempts to communicate with the individual believed to be inside while nearby residents were evacuated for safety. At the same time, Folsom Fire, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office coordinated their response. “A special thank you to Folsom Fire Department and Sacramento Metro Fire Department for working with us together to safely suppress the fire,” McAulliff said.
More than 50 Folsom firefighters were ultimately forced to fight the growing flames from the street and from overhead ladder trucks, training high-pressure hoses onto the home’s roof while television news helicopters captured the dramatic scene from above. “Firefighters and police officers worked together to place hose streams at a safe distance from the building to protect the exposure homes and prevent the fire from spreading,” officials said in a statement Tuesday, citing the “significant safety threat” posed by the believed armed occupant as the reason for the defensive stance.
By 5:34 p.m., nine firefighting units had been dispatched, including five engines, a medic unit, three battalion chiefs, and additional support staff. Crews from both Folsom Fire and Sacramento Metro Fire staged nearby while police attempted to assess the threat. Firefighters could not immediately attack the flames directly because of the possibility of gunfire from inside.
By 6 p.m., the fire had fully engulfed the home, tearing through its structure and collapsing the roof as firefighters worked furiously to keep it from spreading to neighboring houses. “Approximately 35 minutes after the initial dispatch, the fire broke through the roof and engulfed most of the structure, but adjacent homes remained protected,” Lawlor said. Firefighters were ultimately able to contain the fire to the River Ridge Way property, sparing the surrounding neighborhood.
The fire’s progression and the law enforcement response unfolded over several tense hours, with details emerging in real time. As previously reported by Folsom Times Monday evening in their live coverage from the scene, radio traffic and command updates reflected the challenges of balancing a firefighting operation with the possibility of an armed subject inside the residence.
Shortly before 6 p.m., evacuations were underway for homes on Oak Rim Court and for neighbors living directly next door to the burning property. At 6:17 p.m., the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s Air Unit arrived to assist, circling above the neighborhood to provide additional surveillance. By 6:21 p.m., three aerial ladder trucks, at least five additional engines, two medic units, and a fire rescue unit were positioned in the neighborhood. Incident command requested even more reinforcements, calling for two additional Type 1 engines as the situation escalated.
As the blaze intensified around 6:41 p.m., Folsom Police coordinated with firefighters to allow for an aerial water stream operation that could keep flames from leaping to surrounding properties. By 6:55 p.m., firefighters were finally given the green light to engage the flames, but only with unmanned aerial streams. Command staff also deployed drones to help oversee operations and ensure firefighters kept a safe distance.
At 7:04 p.m., animal control was dispatched after firefighters rescued several dogs from a neighboring home in danger of exposure to the flames. The animals were secured and removed from the scene as crews continued to battle the fire, adding a moment of relief amid the tense and dangerous circumstances.
Minutes later, firefighters were able to advance hand lines and begin a defensive push to protect adjacent homes while launching an exterior attack on the burning residence. Crews also cut access through garage doors in an effort to ventilate and control the fire. By 7:38 p.m., all aerial water streams were ordered shut down, shifting the operation to hand lines from the ground. Still, officials said the suspect inside the home had not been located.
By 8:02 p.m., radio traffic indicated that much of the fire had been knocked down and that portions of the home’s interior appeared intact. An arson investigation unit was requested to the scene to begin examining the cause once conditions allowed. At 8:15 p.m., the status of the barricaded subject remained a mystery. A man wearing a bright yellow safety vest was seen walking up to the active scene and speaking with officers.
“While on scene, an unrelated individual was detained,” McAulliff confirmed. “He approached the house wearing clothing that resembled emergency personnel. This person’s presence was not connected to the original incident and may involve mental health concerns.”
By 11:30 p.m., several fire units were released from the scene as crews transitioned into mop-up and investigation. Officials reported that no arrests had been made, and the reported barricaded subject had still not been found.
On Tuesday morning, once the scene was secured and determined to be safe, Folsom Fire personnel conducted a search and located a deceased person inside the residence. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office will release the identity at a later time. McAulliff thanked all partnering agencies for their collaboration and support, noting the use of specialized vehicles and overhead air support from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, as well as additional resources provided by outside fire agencies.
Community members were advised to continue avoiding the area while the scene remained active. For now, the home at 709 River Ridge Way remains an active crime scene and there is still a great deal of unease amongst residents in one of Folsom’s most well-known neighborhoods.
Personnel from the Folsom Fire Department, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office all assisted in Monday night’s dangerous operation. Despite the tense circumstances, their work kept neighboring homes from burning, rescued animals from harm, and prevented injuries to residents or first responders.
“We want to thank all partnering agencies for their collaboration and support, including overhead air support and additional specialized vehicles from Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and additional fire resources provided by outside agencies,” added McAulliff.
Folsom Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as new information is confirmed by investigators who continue to investigate what led up to Monday’s incident and identify the deceased.
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