Victim identified in fatal apartment fire in Merced

A man killed Wednesday in an apartment fire in Merced has been identified as 57-year-old James McCune.

The Merced County Coroner’s Office released the victim’s identity Thursday afternoon.

Flames broke out around 1 a.m. Wednesday at the Brookdale North apartment complex on Brookdale Drive in Merced.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A damage estimate has not been released.

A woman, who witnesses said jumped from her second-story home to escape the flames, suffered a leg injury that was not life-threatening, officials said.

The fire left 15 people without homes. All have found shelter with either friends, family or the assistance of the American Red Cross, authorities said.

Nine homes were damaged.

Nineteen firefighters from all city stations battled the flames. Merced County firefighters covered the city stations and service calls while city firefighters were on the scene, firefighters reported previously.

More than 100 people live in the 58-unit complex near G Street.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Victim identified in fatal apartment fire in Merced."