Elderly woman & five dogs rescued from Cathedral City fire

Firefighters battled a fire at a duplex on Aurora Vista Road in Cathedral City late Thursday night. Now the Cathedral City Fire Department is investigating the suspicious origin as nearly a hundred cans of butane were found at the duplex.

The fire was reported at 9:15 p.m. Firefighters had the blaze completely contained at about 10:15 p.m.

According to a firefighter on scene, the fire started in a room then spread to the attic.

Fire crews and neighbors rescued an elderly woman and her five dogs.

Cathedral City Battalion Chief Robert Allison told KESQ / CBS Local 2 reporter Joe Galli that they believe the fire to be suspicious, possibly criminal.

According to Chief Allison, three occupants in the other half of the duplex bailed the scene. Several dozen canisters of butane were found at the residence. Now the Cathedral City Police Department is looking into what authorities described a a clandestine drug lab operation at the location.

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The Cathedral City Police Department & the Gang Task Force are investigating the fire.

No injuries were reported.

Stay with KESQ / CBS Local 2 as the story develops.