Homeless man burns to death after becoming trapped in bus in Fresno, California, USA.

Homeless man burns to death after becoming trapped in bus in Fresno, California, USA.

NEWS:

Feliciano Franco, a homeless man in his 40s, died after becoming trapped inside a burning bus beside the Eastside Church of God in Fresno, California, on June 15, 2015.

The church had allowed Franco to stay in the bus, which was parked next to the building. He had been living there for several months.

The fire started near the front of the bus and spread quickly. The front door was open, but firefighters said Franco was trapped toward the rear and could not climb out through a window.

Witnesses saw Franco pounding on a window and calling for help while the bus burned. Fresno Deputy Fire Marshal Don MacAlpine later said investigators had every indication that Franco was still alive during the early part of the fire.

Video from the scene shows the bus burning during the incident.

Neighbors knew Franco as Frank. They said he had lived in the area for about four years before moving into the bus. Madeleine Vasquez, a friend who lived nearby, said people in the neighborhood helped him with food, clothing and money.

Investigators determined that Franco had been seen about 30 minutes before the fire. MacAlpine said he had been talking with church members who were preparing for upcoming activities shortly before the blaze.

Fire investigators examined surveillance video while trying to determine what started the fire. They also had not determined why Franco was unable to open or climb through a window at the rear of the bus.

Accounts published at the time differed on the possible cause. One said investigators considered cooking or smoking likely sources of the fire. MacAlpine, however, said fire crews still did not know how the blaze had started and were examining the available evidence.

No suspect was identified, and authorities did not announce that the fire had been deliberately set.

Neighbors said Franco was generally in good health. Fire officials did not identify a physical disability that would explain why he could not escape.

An autopsy was completed on June 16. The medical cause of death had not been released when authorities spoke publicly about the case. Investigators said they expected the autopsy to show either thermal burns or smoke inhalation as the cause.

News story written by DarkGore.

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