The San
Bernardino County Fire Department would like to remind residents of the
importance of developing an escape plan in the event of a fire. This plan
should not only be discussed, but also practiced on a regular basis.
HOUSE
Fire Claims A Life
Just
after 11:00 P.M. a female occupant of a home in the 1800 block of
Neilson Road in the town of Pinon Hills was awakened by a noise in the home.
Upon investigating what caused the noise the female found that the back of the
home was on fire. The occupant immediately woke the other residents, and
began to assist them out of the home. She was able to remove an elderly
female to safety, and then attempted to re-enter the home to save an elderly
male in a wheelchair, but was quickly overcome by heavy smoke.
The
San Bernardino
County Fire Department responded with 4 Paramedic Engines, 2
Paramedic Ambulances, 2 Water Tenders, and a Battalion Chief to the
incident.
The
first SBCFD
engine company arrived to find the 3000 square foot home well involved in
fire. Crews were notified by a San
Bernardino Sheriff Deputy, that an
elderly male in a wheelchair was still in the home. Crews immediately
made an attempt to rescue the victim, but were unable to, due to the large
volume of fire in the area where the victim was trapped.
It
took 25 Fire Fighters just over an hour to contain the fire. The crews
were hampered by a lack of fire hydrants in the area, and relied on a water
shuttling operation from two SBCFD Water Tenders to supply water.
During
the overhaul stage of the fire, the male victim was found deceased, as well as
five dogs that also perished. Fire Investigators from the SBCFD
and the San Bernardino
Sheriff Arson & Bomb Unit
are investigating the fire. The fire started on the back porch of the
residence, but the specific cause is still to be determined.
The
home had working smoke detectors that did activate, but only after the female
occupant began to wake the others in the home.