Thursday Structure Fire

PONG will be missed by so many from the Big Bear Valley, including this editor, E T Russell.

Comments:

I was very saddened to lose our friend Pong, I have been supporting her Sushi since she was in the Get The Burger Bldg.  For years a group of ladies met at Pong’s every Thursday to eat after Aqua Exercise at a local B & B. Lois Briley, our friend and cohort would take our orders and the food would be waiting when we arrived.  Pretty Sweet! Lois and Pong shared many years and birthdays together.  We all trotted down to Aqua Caliente for black jack on the social  side, including her sister,  Alie who will be devastated by the loss of Pong.  We will all miss her smile and good nature. Pong loved her husband Ed, her dogs, family and her family.   Pong will be missed by us all!  Barb Willey

 Pong was a neighbor to my mother for many years and a dear friend of our family.  Pong was a hard-working business woman who served our community for over 30 years.  She and her husband Ed worked together until his death, and then Pong continued to work tirelessly to keep their business going.  She was a kind person, neighbor, and friend.  We appreciate her and all that she contributed to our community, and we will surely miss her! With love from the Hunter and Shaffer families

  EMAIL Comments to:  ETbigbear@gmail.com

UPDATE:  Official Press Release from theSan Bernardino County Coroner:

Coroner Case #701501729. On 2-26-15 at 11:11 AM, emergency personnel responded to a residential fire in the 40000 block of Fox Farm Road in Big Bear Lake.  During a search of the residence, firefighters located Puangmanee Neatherlin, a 71 year old resident of Big Bear Lake, and removed her outside.  She was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.  The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department Bombs and Arson Division is investigating the incident.  [022715 1315]

Late Thursday morning February 26^th, shortly before 11:15 A.M. Big Bear Sheriff deputies and Big Bear Fire emergency personnel responded to a report of a house on fire in the 42000 block of Fox Farm Road, in Big Bear Lake.

Information was received that someone may have been inside the residence at the time of the fire. Emergency responders arrived on scene within a matter of minutes of being dispatched to the call.

Fire Fighters forced entry through the back door of the two-story residence and located an unresponsive female inside the house. Immediate rescue efforts were made; however, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The structure fire was contained mostly to the basement area of the house with minor damage to the first floor. There was extensive smoke damage throughout the residence. Firefighters worked quickly and efficiently to extinguish the fire.

The San Bernardino County Coroner  responded to the scene, as well as personnel from the San Bernardino County Sheriff Bomb and Arson Division. As a matter of protocol, the Bomb/Arson Division of the Sheriff’s Department responds to fires involving fatalities. The victim’s identification and cause of death will be determined and released by the Coroner’s Office.

Multi-agency response to this incident is a coordinated effort of the Big Bear Sheriff personnel, Big Bear Fire, the Coroner and the Bomb and Arson Division of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.