Deadly blaze at JV dog kennel claims 1 victim, 4 dogs

JURUPA VALLEY — One person and four dogs died in a blaze that erupted at Country Place Kennel in Jurupa Valley Saturday evening, Dec. 22. The deadly fire, which completely destroyed the home, happened in the 10000 block of 54th St., between Serendipity Rd. and Steve Ave.

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Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters were first alerted to the blaze just after 8:45 p.m., after receiving multiple reports of a residential structure fire. 911 callers reported seeing smoke and flames billowing from the home and told emergency dispatchers that a person and several dogs were believed to be at the location.

More than two dozen firefighters from seven engine companies and one truck company responded to the fire, Cal Fire spokesperson April Newman later explained in an incident report. They were assisted by a Breathing Support Unit.

“The first arriving engine company reported a single-family dwelling approximately 75% involved in fire,” Newman later explained.

Firefighters mounted an aggressive attack on the fire, spending about two hours knocking down the blaze. No other homes or structures were damaged by the fire, according to Newman.

After extinguishing the blaze, firefighters entered the destroyed residence, where they initially discovered the victim and two deceased dogs. Newman later updated around 11:45 p.m. that firefighters had found two additional dogs that perished in the blaze.

It was not immediately known if the dogs killed in the blaze belonged to the victim killed in the fire or if they were being boarded at the kennel.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials responded to the scene to take custody of the victim who died in the blaze and animal control officials were requested for the four dogs found deceased in the residence.

Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas Company also responded to the fire to shut off utilities to the destroyed home.

Fire officials later estimated the loss at $250,000, with nothing saved from within the home.

The cause of last night’s deadly blaze is still under investigation.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.