Two firefighters injured battling Beaumont strip mall blaze

The first arriving engine company reported a 15,000 square foot strip mall with a well-established fire burning in the attic space. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire photo

BEAUMONT – Two firefighters suffered minor, but unspecified, injuries while battling a two alarm structure fire at a strip mall in the 400 block E. 6th Street in Beaumont Sept. 11. Both injured firefighters were transported by ground ambulances to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries.

The strip mall fire in Beaumont badly damaged a restaurant, an electronics store and a carpet supply shop early Sunday morning. In a telephone interview with the Press Enterprise, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Smith explained, “The building is, for the most part, completely destroyed.”

Firefighters from Cal Fire/Riverside County with help from Cal Fire/San Bernardino and Morongo Fire Department responded to a fire reported at a strip mall at 5:57 a.m.

26 firefighters from nine engine companies and one truck company responded to the blaze. They were being assisted by a Breathing Support Unit, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Jody Hagemann.

When the first engine company arrived they reported a 15,000 square foot strip mall with a well-established fire burning in the attic space.

Southern California Edison was called to the scene to shut off utilities to the mall while firefighters were battling the blaze.

Beaumont PD was requested to the scene to assist with a road closure on Beaumont Avenue between the I-10 Freeway to 6th Street.

The fire was knocked down at about 7:35 a.m. However, resources remained on scene for at least four hours for extensive overhaul and clean-up operations.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by a fire investigator.

Hagemann estimated the loss at about $1.5 million dollars. She estimated the combined actions of the on-scene fire personnel saved about $500,000 worth of the property.

Anyone with information about this fire is encouraged to contact Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire officials at (951) 940-6985. Callers can refer to incident file number CA-RRU-110120 and can remain anonymous.

 

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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.