YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. — The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office is in the process of identifying human remains recovered from the site of a house fire in Wilhoit.
On Saturday, a 79-year-old woman called 911 to report that her house was on fire. By the time deputies arrived, the home was fully engulfed and the structure eventually burned to the ground.
One deceased individual, presumed to be the homeowner, was found in the rubble, YCSO said.
It is believed the fire originated in a nearby shed where many butane, paint and other containers were stored.
Neighbors told YCSO the homeowner lived alone and had some mobility issues. Investigators are trying make a definitive identification of the remains and to determine a next of kin.
YCSO doesn't suspect foul play.
UP TO SPEED
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
