Structure Fire
On October 25, Escondido Police Department and Escondido Fire Department were dispatched to a structure fire, occupied by one person. Officers arrived and located the structure engulfed in flames. Escondido Fire entered the structure and located one person deceased.
A Little Bit About Escondido’s Response to Fire Incidents:
After the last signs of flames have been extinguished and all that is heard is the sound of the final fire apparatus’ diesel engine fading into the distance, the work of the Escondido Fire Department’s (EFD) Investigators and Inspectors begins. EFD is joined by the Escondido Police Department’s (EPD) Arson Investigators to conduct a cooperative and collaborative investigation as to the cause, origin, and criminality of fires within the City of Escondido.
As noted in the chart below, 2020 saw a significant spike in reported arson incidents within San Diego County. This figure may be misleading, as it only records reported arson incidents and does not include the numerous ‘suspicious’ fires investigated by EFD and EPD personnel. Escondido has not been immune to the county-wide trend. Within the last calendar year, EFD and EPD personnel have worked in conjunction to investigate a serial arsonist who set upwards of 19 different blazes, a mobile home arson in which children were endangered, a human caused fire at an elementary school which caused upwards of $50,000 in damage, and a residential fire which claimed the life of a female resident. The City of Escondido and its residents are fortunate to have a group of individuals with the drive, knowledge, and mindset to serve them in this difficult environment.
