December 23, 2024--Early this morning, San Bernardino County Fire was dispatched to a reported commercial structure fire in the 200 block of E 13th Street, San Bernardino. 911 callers described a fire from an apartment with potentially four people trapped.
Units arrived within minutes to find heavy fire showing from the first floor of a two-story apartment building. The well involved fire was immediately threatening the second story which was cutting off the primary escape route for the upstairs units. The incident was quickly balanced to a second alarm. Two civilian victims were found outside, one injured by jumping from the second story while the second sustained injuries while rapidly evacuating his apartment. First alarm resources initiated paramedic care for the patients, conducted searches of the apartments and began an initial attack on the fire
The fire was knocked down within 30 minutes of arrival. The fire ultimately damaged three units; the searches of the building yielded no additional occupants. One victim was transported with moderate injuries by AMR to a local trauma center while the second patient was treated on-scene and ultimately declined transport. No additional injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.
A quick and robust response was vital in quickly suppressing the fire. All five engines and the two truck companies of the first alarm arrived within nine minutes of dispatch. The fire remains under investigation by SBCoFD Fire Investigators. A total of four residents were displaced by the fire.
A SBCoFD drone was utilized within minutes of arrival, allowing incident commanders to monitor the fire scene from an aerial standpoint. This real time situational awareness allowed crews to monitor the progress of the fire, heat in the structure and monitor for any ember casting to nearby structures. This is yet another way SBCoFD is utilizing technology to safely and efficiently manage incidents.
San Bernardino County Fire responded with nine engines, two truck companies, three chief officers, and two investigators. AMR responded with two ambulances.
