Tragic House Fire Claims Lives of Pets in Rancho Mirage

Maricopa Fire and Medical Department responded to a garage fire in Rancho Mirage on the evening of August 14, 2024. Emergency crews received the call at 9:34 p.m. for a fire located on the 37000 block of San Capistrano Avenue.

According to City spokesperson Quinn Konold, the fire quickly spread from the garage to the attic, but firefighters managed to control the situation promptly. “It did a little damage to the home; the garage is a loss,” Konold stated.

Smoke was reported pouring from the roof, with visible flames inside the garage. Multiple agencies, including fire crews from Phoenix, Chandler, Goodyear, Sun Lakes, and the Arizona Fire Marshal Association, provided mutual aid. Police and EMS personnel were also present at the scene.

Fortunately, the residents were able to evacuate without injury. However, neighbor Jamie Sylvia Mariscal expressed concern for two missing kittens. Konold confirmed that some family pets did not survive the incident. “Because it was busy and fluid, [firefighters] don’t know exactly how many, but they did indicate some family pets were lost,” he added.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, but no determination has been made at this time. “They’ll investigate to determine the cause,” Konold said. “They don’t have one right now.”