Thomas Mulvaney – Authorities have identified one of the victims in a deadly building fire that broke out in Midtown Sacramento earlier this week. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office confirmed that 50-year-old Thomas Mulvaney was among the individuals who died in the blaze.
The fire erupted at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday at an office building located at the intersection of J and 19th streets. When Sacramento Fire Department crews arrived on the scene, they were met with heavy smoke, which made it difficult to conduct an immediate search of the building.
Once firefighters were able to enter, they discovered two deceased individuals, later identified as Mulvaney and an unidentified woman, along with a dog that also perished in the fire. The presence of bedding and other materials inside the building indicated that people had been living there, despite it being considered vacant.
Sacramento Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Justin Sylvia acknowledged the unexpected human presence inside the building. “What I can say on that is there are signs of human activity inside of this vacant building,” he stated. “So it was not vacant as suspected—there were obviously people living there, and two people perished in this fire.”
Following the tragedy, the Midtown Association released a statement expressing gratitude to the Sacramento Fire Department for its rapid response. The statement also addressed the broader issue of homelessness and trespassing in the area.
“Through proactive efforts, the number of instances of homelessness has been declining in Midtown, but there is still significant work to be done to prevent trespassing and related illegal activity,” the statement read.
At this time, the cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation. Fire officials have not ruled out any potential causes and are conducting a thorough review to determine what may have sparked the blaze. Given the evidence of human activity inside the structure, investigators are carefully examining the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the second victim, and it remains unclear whether anyone else was inside the building at the time of the fire. As the investigation progresses, officials will continue to assess the structural damage, review surveillance footage, and gather witness statements to piece together what happened.