Corona firefighters go above and beyond to help family as father battles stage 4 cancer

CORONA, Calif. — When a Corona family recently called 911 to report a dryer fire in their home they knew they could count on a quick and effective response from City of Corona firefighters. What they never could have imagined was the unexpected act of kindness shown by those firefighters once the fire burning inside their home’s laundry room had been extinguished.

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City of Corona Engine Company 7 firefighters recently responded to reports of a structure fire involving a dryer in the Corona home. After mitigating the incident and ensuring the occupants of the residence were safe, the engine crew began to learn more about the family living at the residence.

“On the day of this drier fire, the crews on scene found out that the family was dealing with a bigger issue regarding the health of the Dad, who is battling stage 4 cancer,” Corona Fire Captain Frank Re told RCNS today when asked about the kindness shown by Corona firefighters that day.

Due to the age and condition of the dryer and the homeowner’s ongoing battle with cancer, firefighters quickly formed a plan with the Corona Firefighters Association and purchased a brand new dryer for the homeowner. They then delivered the new dryer to the home, even taking the time to properly install and prepare the new appliance for the grateful family.

After learning that the homeowner at the scene of a dryer fire was battling stage 4 cancer, City of Corona firefighters purchased, and properly installed, a new dryer for the family. Corona Fire Department photo

“As Corona firefighters we take pride in serving our community and when we see a family that could use some help we are quick to step up and help out,” Re said of his firefighter’s actions that day.

“Honestly, this is nothing new,” the Captain, who has worked for the department for twenty five years, explained; adding, “This is more than just a place where we work. it is a place where we look for opportunities to serve our community.”

“Capt. Chris Douglas saw an opportunity to help the family by removing the old drier and replacing it with a new one. We take action when we see an opportunity to help because its the right thing to do.”

“The CFD takes pride in caring for our community and we feel it is important because we typically are interacting with our community when they are having a bad day,” Re explained. “So it feels great to know we can do something to put a smile on someone’s face or have a real positive impact in their life.”


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Corona Fire Department photos



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Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

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 30 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 18 grandchildren.

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