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The Fresno County Coroner’s Office in an update Friday identified the person found dead in a house fire as 11-year-old Kayla Cruz Ledesma of Laton.
Fire officials said the blaze broke out after 11 a.m. Thursday on Gonser Street and Bliss Avenue in Laton, where an RV also caught fire.
Fire crews battled the fire and found Ledesma inside the home. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The coroner on Friday said Ledesma was home alone and taking a nap when the fire broke out.
It is unknown how the fire started.
The fire is under investigation.
Laton has a population of around 2,000 and is 30 miles south of Fresno in southern Fresno County.
This story was originally published August 14, 2026 at 12:54 PM.
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Anthony Galaviz writes about breaking news/sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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