On Wednesday, firefighters in El Mirage, San Bernardino County were alerted to a structural fire that had taken hold in a trailer. Sources, including the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, stated that a call came through at around 11:28 AM reporting the blaze on the 2300 block of El CAPRICHO Drive.
The firefighting crew found a single-wide trailer engulfed by flames upon arriving. They promptly deployed hose lines in order to initiating a defensive fire. However, their task became complicated as the fire had spread to the a 1/4 acre lot, cluttered with debris and equipment with potential links to a grow operation. Additionally, no close water source and apparent electrical hazards hindered the fire fighting efforts.
To prevent the fire from spreading to an additional 1000 square foot structure, the fire responders acted quickly and strategically. They managed to reduce the building's damage to twenty-five percent. During the crisis, they called for Edison's assistance to handle the electrical issues discovered on the property. Thanks to their swift actions two elderly individuals got evacuated safely without any casualties reported.
However, as they advanced in their operation, fire rescuers stumbled upon a surprising find - several cannabis plants. This raised suspicion and questions about the fire's root cause and the possible involvement of the unlawful operation in sparking it.
The investigation into the matter, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, is ongoing. The Fire Marshal's Office and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department are collaborating in the investigation, looking closely at the cannabis ownership issue and the fire's origin.
During the incident, the county's response included four engines, one chief officer, and a fire investigator for a total of 14 responders on scene. Aided by the City of Victorville Fire Department and Calfire, it took collective and concerted efforts to control the fire and mitigate all possible hazards.
