Flames engulfed a once life-saving facility in San Bernardino County earlier today, as firefighters battled a fierce blaze that tore through a vacated convalescent hospital. Smoke was first reported at the intersection of Grace & San Bernardino Ave, prompting an urgent response from the emergency services. Upon their arrival, the San Bernardino County Fire crews were greeted by a 13,000-square-foot structure already consumed by fire on 25% of its footprint.
The building, which stood empty but once housed 49 rooms dedicated to long-term patient care, saw an aggressive approach by the firefighters. They charged into the building and began an offensive attack, striving to contain the flames and search for possible victims. In the midst of their efforts, two individuals were discovered inside, and though they emerged unscathed, refusing transport, their presence underscored the precariousness of the derelict location.
As the fire grasped for more of the structure, pervading the common attic area, firefighters were forced to retreat to a defensive stance. Commandeering ladder trucks and handlines, the crews pounded the building with high volumes of water. The priority shifted, fixating on the protection of neighboring buildings. Roughly 90 minutes after the initial call, their tenacious efforts paid off and the major force of the fire was extinguished.
Efforts continued as the SBCoFD executed an extensive overhaul of the compromised structure with the assistance of an Excavator, enhancing the safety and efficiency of the operation, according to a Facebook post by the fire department. Not a single injury to civilians or firefighters marred the incident, despite the ferocity, and intensity of the flames. The blaze, as far as current investigations show, remains a mystery yet to be unraveled.
The coordinated response to the inferno was hefty; eight engines, two truck companies, two medic squads, three chief officers, an air/light unit, and an excavator were dispatched to the scene, alongside two fire investigators. Helping hands also came from Rialto Fire, who provided an engine company, demonstrating a united front in the face of calamity. Battalion Chief Mike McClintock, who also serves as the Public Information Officer, confirmed the details of the response and the status of the investigation into the fire's origins.
