On July 9, Fire crews from Station 1 noticed dark smoke just north of the station. Multiple Fire units, along with Escondido Police, arrived at the area to locate the source. Crews discovered a motorhome in the brush fully engulfed in flames just adjacent to the
1000 block of Rock Springs Rd. The fire had extended to the surrounding vegetation and damaged a nearby transient encampment. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. No civilians or firefighters were injured. Fire Prevention Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
Also, on July 9, the Escondido Police and Fire Communication Center received reports of smoke in the garage of a residence in the area of Vermont Avenue and Olivia Court.
The first arriving Engine Company reported a two-story house with heavy fire in the garage. A second alarm was immediately requested as the neighboring home was being impinged by flames and also appeared to have fire developing in the garage. Firefighters aggressively attacked the primary fire while protecting the adjacent structures. The original fire heavily damaged the garage and its contents. The interior of the house sustained minimal fire damage, but was consumed with smoke. The second home sustained fire damage to the garage. Smoke damage also occurred to the living space,
however, Firefighters were able to minimize smoke damage to that home.
Two adults were displaced from the original fire building and were issued a SAVE card from the California Fire Foundation to assist with immediate needs. Six Engine Companies, a Truck Company, a Rescue Ambulance, and a Battalion Chief responded to the incident. No Firefighters or civilians were injured as a result of the fire. Cause and origin or the fire is being investigated by Escondido Fire Department Investigators.
Over the past few months, Escondido Firefighters have been training and preparing for a busy fire season. The predicted extreme weather and heat advisory this weekend has been accurate, and unfortunately Riverside County currently has (4) active fires burning. Therefore, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has requested assistance.
On July 15, our own Captain Teague, Engineer M. Smith and Firefighter/Paramedics Sharp and J. Marshall were deployed to assist at the Rabbit Fire in Riverside. A short time later, Chief Matthews and soon to be Battalion Chief Salazar were requested to led a North Zone Strike team to the Gavilan Fire. All six deployed personnel arrived safely to their reporting locations and are currently assisting local Fire crews. This is just one way that our firefighters show their teamwork and passion for what they do, and their dedication to Legendary service to all.
