San Diego's Harris Fire has claimed another life. A woman who was caught in the flames while crossing the border illegally from Mexico died today at UCSD's burn unit. KPBS reporter Amy Isackson has details.
Maria Beltran left her Vista home to go back to Mexico for her father's funeral in early October.
According to the Union Tribune, it was the first time she'd visited Mexico in ten years.
Beltran was ready to cross back to the United States on October 21st, the day the fires began.
She handed off her children, who are U.S. citizens, to a relative in Tijuana. The relative brought them home to Vista.
Meanwhile, Beltran and her brother set out with a smuggler.
Her husband, Felipe Mercado, waited for word from them. Four days passed. Finally, he got a call from UCSD's burn unit.
He was asked to come down to see if he could recognize any of the burn victims as his wife and brother and law.
He was able to identify his wife only by her toe nail polish.
Maria Beltran was 29.
The family has asked the media not to contact them while they grieve.
13 people remain in UCSD's burn unit. Six are in critical condition.
Amy Isackson, KPBS News.
