Hemet vegetation fire quickly extinguished with help from citizens

June 12, 2016 Trevor Montgomery

Firefighters from Hemet Fire Station #4, located less than one block from the one-half acre vegetation fire, arrived within minutes of the reported fire. Robin Montgomery / RCNS photo

Moments before the arrival of fire personnel, flames could be spreading quickly through the field at the intersection of Cawston and Thornton Avenues. Robin Montgomery RCNS photo

Moments before the arrival of fire personnel, flames could be seen spreading quickly through the field at the intersection of Cawston and Thornton Avenues. Robin Montgomery / RCNS photo

HEMET – Several residents came to the aid of Hemet Fire Department in fighting a vegetation fire at the southeast corner of Thornton and Cawston Avenues. Countless citizens who live in nearby homes, the Mountain Shadows RV Resort, and the Riverdale Apartments, located directly across from the fire, called City of Hemet emergency dispatchers at about 4:50 p.m., Sunday, June 12.

Riverside County News Source reporter Robin Montgomery was at the scene of the fire about two minutes before firefighters arrived. She spoke with Joseph Delgado, one of many citizens who had called 911 to report the fire.

Firefighters arrived within minutes of the reported fire. Robin Montgomery / RCNS photo

“We were in our backyard having a BBQ when we began smelling smoke from the fire,” Delgado said. “When my kids told me the field behind our home was on fire, I told them they were just smelling smoke from the BBQ until I realized the field was actually on fire.”

Delgado went on to praise the quick response of Hemet Fire personnel, saying he was thankful to live so close to Fire Station Number 4, located less than a block from the vegetation fire.

Firefighters arrived within minutes and reported the fire covered about a one-half acre of dried vegetation. However, they reported the fire was threatening several houses located towards the southwestern corner of the field, where several citizens were using personal water hoses and buckets filled with water to slow the spread of the fire.

The one-half acre vegetation fire came right up to the wall separating the field from nearby homes. Robin Montgomery RCNS photo

The one-half acre vegetation fire came up to a wall separating the field from nearby homes, forcing some citizens to assist in fighting the fire. Robin Montgomery / RCNS photo

While firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, Hemet Police officers responded to the location to assist with traffic control and keep curious citizens a safe distance back from the field.

With citizen’s help, the fire was quickly contained. An on-scene Battalion Commander declared the fire was under control about 12 minutes after it was first reported, shortly after 5 p.m.

There was no property damaged and no reported injuries to citizens or emergency first responders.