HEMET: Firefighter’s quick response saves homes
HEMET – Firefighters quickly knocked down a backyard fire that damaged a shed and was threatening nearby residences Sunday, March 26. The fire broke out in the 1300 block of Leslie Drive, near S. San Jacinto Avenue in Hemet. Leslie Drive is in a quiet, tree-lined residential neighborhood south of E. Whittier and north of Johnston Avenues.
Firefighters arrived at the scene within 3 minutes of the initially dispatched call. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo
All five City of Hemet engine companies responded to the reported fire about 2:53 p.m. They were assisted by a truck company, paramedic squad and a battalion commander. American Medical Response medics and supervisors also responded to the reported blaze.
911 callers who had seen flames and smoke billowing out from the backyard told emergency dispatchers that all the residents from the home had safely evacuated the residence.
The first engine company, battalion commander and other fire officials began arriving at the scene of the fire just three minutes after the call was dispatched.
The first fire officials on scene reported smoke showing from the rear of the residence and requested that the next engine company to arrive in the area establish a water source so firefighters could begin extinguishing the fire.
One of the first firefighters to arrive at the scene establishes a water source. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo
At that time the on-scene battalion commander established the Leslie Incident Command.
All other fire and emergency resources were at the scene within minutes.
At 2:59 p.m., just six minutes after the fire was reported and dispatched, firefighters advised they had extinguished the fire and there was no further immediate danger to other structures.
Two engine companies and a battalion commander remained at the scene for overhaul and mop up operations.
All other unnecessary apparatus were released from the scene and returned to service.
No citizens or firefighters were injured during the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Live Fire Incident Log – Riverside County News Source/RCNS
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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. He also writes for Riverside County-based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and additionally writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor 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 and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.