Redlands Fire Department - Extrication - 12-26-12

Redlands and Loma Linda firefighters responded with the California Highway Patrol to Interstate 10 at Mt. View Ave for a single SUV rollover off of the freeway on Dec. 26. The SUV left the freeway and came to rest 50 feet below. One of the challenges that firefighters faced was that the SUV rolled into a series of large trees. Firefighters had cut a pathway through the trees to gain access to the heavlily damaged vehicle. Once access was obtained, firefighters utilized hydraulic and electric powered tools to remove the two critically injured victims. More photos can be seen here in the gallery section of FireWXPhoto.com.

Photo by EPN-564

San Bernardino City - Commercial Structure - 12-23-12

A two alarm fire was reported in a commercial building near D St. and 16 St. early Sunday morning. The first arriving units found a single story, multi-unit, strip mall with fire showing through the roof. It took nearly an hour to bring the fire under control. More photos can be seen here in the gallery section of FireWXPhoto.com.

Photo by EPN-564

Los Angeles County Fire Tanker Base - Van Nuys - 11-24-12

The EPN group was invited to visit the LACoFD Tanker Base at the Van Nuys Airport on Saturday. The Super Scoopers were still on contract and we were able to get some photos with the tankers.

Photos by EPN-564

Of course I got a nice shot of 'Delilah'

San Bernardino City Fire - Commercial Fire - 11-19-12

A 3 alarm commercial structure fire in the City of San Bernardino was reported at approximately 8:30 pm on Monday night. San Bernardino Fire arrived on scene to find a single story commercial building with heavy smoke and fire rapidly spreading to multiple units of the building. Forcible entry tactics were utilized to gain entry to the structure as well as extensive vertical ventilation to prevent the fire from extending further into adjoining units of the structure. The fire was under control within an hour with one minor firefighter injury reported. More photos can be seen here in the gallery section of FireWXPhoto.com.

Photo by EPN-564

Redlands Fire Department - DUI suspected in single-vehicle injury collision - 11-18-12

Redlands Police and Fire personnel responded to a single-vehicle injury collision Sunday night when a pickup truck collided with a light pole. The accident was reported shortly before 8:30 p.m. when the driver of the vehicle, a 2006 Toyota Tundra, struck a utility pole at Lugonia Avenue and Sixth Street, and crashed through two perimeter fences before colliding with a light pole at the intersection of Lugonia and Orange Street. The collision resulted in major damage to the pick-up requiring the use of the Jaws of Life.  It took firefighters approximately 30 minutes to free the trapped driver from the wreckage.  The driver of the vehicle was transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center by firefighter paramedics with moderate injuries. No other injuries were reported in the collision. The California Highway Patrol had received several earlier calls regarding the same vehicle driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of Lugonia Avenue at a high rate of speed with a damaged tire. Investigators have determined that the driver, 42-year-old Howard Shannon Howell, of Redlands, was driving under the influence of alcohol and prescription medications. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681. Anonymous tips can be provided by texting 274637 using the keyword “REDTIP.” Certain non-emergency crimes may also be reported online using the Redlands Police Department’s CopLogic reporting system at http://ci.redlands.ca.us/police/coplogic/start-report.html.

More photos can be seen here in the gallery section of FireWXPhoto.com.

Photo by EPN-564

Redlands Fire Department - Century-old home heavily damaged by fire - 11-7-12

A more than century-old home was heavily damaged by fire Wednesday morning. No injuries were reported in the blaze. Redlands Firefighters received the call of a home on fire in the 300 block of Sonora Street shortly after 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7. When firefighters arrived they found the two-story home well involved. No one was home at the residence but firefighters say fire had probably been burning in the interior walls for some time before the fire was detected. Smoke from the fire could be seen throughout Redlands downtown and nearby residential areas. Two overlapping shifts from the Redlands Fire Department responded along with personnel from Loma Linda, San Bernardino County and a Deputy Fire Chief from the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District who saw the flames as he was heading to work. A total of 31 personnel responded. At about 8 a.m. the structure’s roof collapsed and firefighters pulled back from the building before beginning a new attack on the blaze. The fire was knocked down at about 9 a.m. but firefighters remained on scene performing mop up until about 3:30 p.m. The cause of the fire was likely electrical given the old-style wiring and a history of electrical problems in the house. Damage was estimated at approximately $300,000 for the structure and another $50,000 in contents. Because of the historical nature of the home, rebuilding and restoration could run significantly higher. The approximately 1,800-square-foot home was built in 1904. The home had been divided into separate upstairs and downstairs rental units. A majority of the fire damage was to the upstairs portion of the house. The downstairs portion also suffered significant water damage. A dog and a cat belonging to the residents were rescued from the fire.

More photos can be seen here in the gallery section of FireWXPhoto.com.

Photo by EPN-564

San Bernardino Tanker Base - 11-4-12

I had a chance to visit the San Bernardino Tanker Base on December 4th and got a few photos of the new generation air tanker, the BAE 146. Here are a couple shots of Tanker 41.

Photos by EPN-564

Redlands Fire Department re-creates 1958 photo

Current and past members of the Redlands Fire Department stand in front of the current fleet of apparatus in a re-enactment of a similar photo taken in 1958 in the same place, Cajon St. and Vine St.

Photos by EPN-564 - The bottom photo is a copy of the original photo possibly taken by Elmer Kingham in 1958.