Christmas Morning Fire__

  Mother and Three Children Perished 

The mountain community of Big Bear Lake, California is in grieving the death of a mother and her three young children, early Christmas morning Friday December 25th. As the result of a house fire four lives were claimed by the blaze. Family members identified the mother Maria de Los Angeles and children eight years old Citali Carlos, three years old Andres Carlos and six months old Pearla Carlos.  

As usual my computer and scanner turn on by 5:00 A.M. I listened intently when I heard the dispatcher:

FRI DEC 25, 2015, 5:47 AM
 STRUCTURE FIRE
500 BLOCK OF ALDEN RD, BIG BEAR LAKE
5XX ALDEN ROAD -39 BIG BEAR MOBILE HOME PARK - CROSS STREETS: FOOTHILL LN/NO X-STREET [GPS]
NOTE: BIG BEAR PAID CALL FIREFIGHTERS STAFF YOUR EQUIPMENT
NOTE: US FOREST SERVICE HAS BEEN REQUESTED TO RESPOND TO THIS INCIDENT
UNITS RESPONDING: ME281 BC2807 ME282 MA281 MA282A CLOCK10A BFAALL FEDCOM (BIG BEAR LAKE FIRE  

The structure fire was at a mobile home located in the 500 block of Alden Road, located south of Big Bear Boulevard, in Big Bear Lake; also near the Big Bear Fire Station. 

Immediate response to the neighbors 9-1-1 call to the structure fire was by Big Bear Fire Fighters, Medic Paramedics, followed by more assistance from San Bernardino County Fire, Running Springs Fire and CalFire Fire Fighters.  

It was reported that upon the fire crews’ arrival that the mobile home was fully engulfed in flames and the roof was collapsing. A man (later identified as Carlos) was attempting to re-enter the burning home to rescue his children and their mother.   

Big Bear Fire Marshal Nick Bruinsma said that the Firefighters attempted to rescue the also destroyed by fire, but fortunately all the occupants were evacuated safely.  

The extreme cold winds were a deterrent to fighting the fire as well as the responding Mercy Air helicopter that was requested to airlift the father, Jose Carlos. A Deputy Sheriff tried to rescue the mother and children but couldn’t because of the collapsed roof. Carlos sustained burns and lacerations. Mercy Air landed successfully at Big Bear City Airport and transported Carlos for treatment to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

The house fire was knocked down by 6:23 A.M. According to Big Bear Fire Chief Jeff Willis the structure fire incident with fatalities, is under investigation by San Bernardino County Sheriff –Bomb & Arson Department.

By E T Russell