The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department is in the process of confirming through dental records the identity of the badly burned victim found inside an Orcutt mobile home that was destroyed by fire Monday.

Sheriff's Sgt. Erik Raney said Tuesday that the name will not be released until the identity of the victim is confirmed, which should take one to two weeks.

However, he said that family members of the person that authorities surmised was found dead in the mobile home have been notified.

Neighbors believed the victim was Doris Hurst, who they said was an Orcutt native in her 80s or 90s. They said she had been sick, possibly following a stroke.

Hurst lived in the home in space 12 of the Town and Country Mobile Estates where the fire occurred, neighbors said.

An autopsy was underway Tuesday afternoon, Raney said, but a definite cause of death could not be obtained Tuesday.

A neighbor said he called 9-1-1 Monday morning after he saw flames shooting out the side door of the home and smoke pouring out a window.

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The man, who declined to give his name, said he yelled for the occupant of the house and approached the residence, but had to turn back because of the heat.

Firefighters arrived at 11:19 a.m. and put out the heavy flames and smoke within five to 10 minutes, according to Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Gerald Kuras.

Fire investigators were sifting through the debris of the mobile home Tuesday, and they said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

A bouquet of flowers had been placed at the scene.

Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Eli Iskow said mobile homes have more restricting layouts than other homes, which can be dangerous in a fire.

“Sometimes fire can get between you and the only exit,” he said.

“It's good if you can make sure that you can exit through your windows if you have to,” Iskow added.

He said the most important fire safety precaution everyone can take, however, is to have multiple smoke detectors and ensure they're functional.

April 18, 2007