San Bernardino County Fire
Wednesday May 20th, San Bernardino County Fire Fighters responded to a reported
structure fire in El Mirage, with initial reports of a subject trapped inside.
Upon Fire Fighters arrival, they immediately conducted an interior search and
found an elderly female unconscious in a back bedroom. They quickly brought her
to safety and started life saving measures to no avail.
Firefighters rescued ten dogs from the burning
home. Within 50 minutes, twelve SBC Fire
Fighters had the fire contained to the kitchen and living room area of the
double-wide mobile home.
Prior to Fire Fighter arrival, the male occupant
smelled smoke and found the kitchen on fire. He notified his wife there was a
fire and then immediately tried to extinguish the blaze utilizing a garden
hose, however the fire spread too quickly and he was forced to exit the home.
During this time, an adult daughter arrived at the home and located her mother
in a bedroom and began administering CPR. The daughter was quickly overcome by
smoke and had to evacuate the residence.
This is the second fatality from a structure
fire in the High Desert in two days. On the evening of May 18th, a male adult
and his five dogs perished when a fire occurred at his home in Phelan. For more
information, refer to press release at www.sbcfire.org under latest news.
Both fires remain under investigation by San Bernardino
Sheriff Arson & Bomb Unit. The origin of Monday’s fire was the
kitchen. Both surviving occupants were treated and released at the scene. There
were no working smoke detectors inside the home. Damage estimates are unknown
at this time.
San Bernardino County Fire Department encourages residents to
install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and
on every level of the home and test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test
button. Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and
understands what to do when they hear it. Learn more about the importance of
working smoke alarms and testing them monthly at www.sbcfire.org.
Remember to
have and practice a home escape plan, including your families meeting place. This avoids confusion in
case of an emergency, and allows your family to account for each family member.