HEMET: Report of fire scares the “living daylights” out of Daylight Donuts’ fans

Today’s lighter side of the news…

HEMET — Donut lovers from across the San Jacinto Valley got the scare of their lives earlier today when reports of a fire at Hemet’s own Daylight Donuts and Midnight Munchies spread across the Internet like a social media wildfire.

Reports of thick black smoke seen billowing from the roof of the popular eatery caused a near, city-wide panic and brought cops, firefighters and every day citizens racing to the scene to try to consume all their favorite munchies before they could be consumed by fire.

City of Hemet Firefighters were first to arrived at the scene of a reported structure fire at Daylight Donuts and Midnight Munchies. Gary Rainwater / Hemet Valley Incidents photo

The fried-ring frenzy began about 10 a.m. this morning, when City of Hemet emergency dispatchers received reports of a possible structure fire burning at the purveyor of popular pastries and succulent sandwiches, located at 1031 W. Florida at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue.

With word of a potential fire dealing a desert-dweller’s donut disaster, it was a race to see who could get to the scene first.

When firefighters were first to arrive they immediately began searching for the source of the smoke, ready to rescue any fat-fried rings in imminent danger. Moments later, the firefighters were seen scrambling up their ladders onto the roof of the business, where they were spotted squirreling away as many succulent sinkers as possible before the real crowds of hungry hordes arrived.

Never ones to miss out on the opportunity to rescue a few of their favorite mouth-watering morsels right from the mouths of hungry firemen, law enforcement officers were next to arrive on scene.

With most of the firefighters distracted by the delightfully delectable danish’s they were downing, officers and deputies made a dash for the deliciously divine dunkers still waiting to be devoured inside the dining area.

With the porcine-patrol porking on pastries, a brave and valiant battalion chief was spotted desperately giving mouth-to-mouth to a New York Steak Sandwich with Chimichurri Salsa, an always popular choice at the one of a kind restaurant.

Even the rowdy and ravenous community reporters were on hand, torn between snapping their next Pulitzer Prize-winning photo or plowing through a few more trays of tasty delicious treats.

But the real munchie-mayhem didn’t begin until Valley residents showed up, wanting to save their own favorite fried fritters – one stomach-full at a time – from fiery death in a cruel conflagration.

Firefighters made quick access to the roof, where they barricaded themselves with as many donuts as they could carry. Gary Rainwater / Hemet Valley Incidents photo

Past a choir line of CHiP’ies cruelly chomping on crullers, citizens formed a reverse bucket brigade ferrying donuts and burgers as well as sandwiches and salads from the perceived danger within to the very real danger awaiting them at the hands – and stomachs – of the cacophonous crowds cackling outside.

Officials eventually determined there was no real danger – other than to the store’s dwindling food supplies – and told the business’ owner, Myrian Melnechuk, that the smoke had been caused by too many plugs in one socket, which caused a brief electrical overload.

Speaking about the scare at her business, Myrian later explained, “We just switched some plugs to another source and the problem was resolved.”

When asked why firefighters were called out a second time by employees who reported smelling smoke again just a few hours later, Myrian admitted, “My girls said it was the best trick to get all those hot firefighters to come racing back to the shop!”

Despite the scare, Myrian assured that she would be back at her shop at 3 a.m., setting up and getting ready for the inevitable daily run on the Valley’s favorite donuts.

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

Gary Rainwater / Hemet Valley Incidents photo

Gary Rainwater / Hemet Valley Incidents photo

Gary Rainwater / Hemet Valley Incidents photo

Gary Rainwater / Hemet Valley Incidents photo

Gary Rainwater / Hemet Valley Incidents photo

Gary Rainwater / Hemet Valley Incidents photo

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries 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.