Multiple fires threaten residential properties
Fighting fires requires cooperation of numerous agencies
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Early Saturday morning at about 3:29, the El Centro Police and Fire Dispatch Center received several reports of a vacant commercial structure on fire at 473 Park Ave., the old Imperial Valley Blind Center building.
Three engine companies and one battalion chief from the City of El Centro, with 11 personnel, initially responded to the first-alarm assignment. Within five minutes of arriving on scene, the first-in company officer reported a single-story, vacant, non-sprinklered commercial structure with a vegetation and trash fire that extended into the attic of the building.
A second-alarm fire was requested at 3:37 a.m., adding three engine companies and one battalion chief from outside the city. The mutual aid request brought resources from the City of Imperial, County of Imperial, City of Holtville and the City of Calexico.
No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported. Off-duty personnel and mutual-aid resources added 11 firefighters to the scene for support in firefighting operations. In total, 22 firefighters responded to the incident.
Other cooperating agencies included the AMR Ambulance, Imperial Irrigation District (IID), Southern California Gas Company (SCGC), City of El Centro Code Enforcement Division (ECCED), City of El Centro Public Works (ECPW), and El Centro Police Department. The last El Centro Fire Department (ECFD) unit cleared Park Avenue at 04:57 a.m.
El Centro Fire Department (ECFD) investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire. Any witnesses or individuals with information related to this fire should call (760) 337-4530.
Second Fire
Again at 4:31 a.m., the El Centro Police and Fire Dispatch Center received several 911 calls reporting a second structure on fire in the 700 block of Broadway Avenue. El Centro firefighters arrived within minutes; that's when the first-in chief officer found a fully involved abandoned single-story, single-family structure with heavy fire and smoke coming from the building.
Windy conditions quickly caused the fire to spread into the attic of a nearby building. ECFD resources assigned to the "Park Incident" were released and promptly responded to the second fire. Two additional single resources were requested from the City of Brawley and Imperial County Fire Department.
Three El Centro fire engines and several mutual-aid resources were reassigned from the ongoing structure fire on the 400 block of Park Avenue. The single initial fire attack crew was faced with high winds and heavy fire growth, forcing personnel to fight the fire with large fire hoses.
Adjacent homes and businesses were protected from further fire spread, but the fire had extended to a nearby commercial structure due to the wind before ECFD's arrival. As additional equipment and personnel arrived on the scene, forcible entry and an aggressive interior attack were performed on the commercial exposure.
Despite aggressive efforts to keep the fire from spreading, the fire spread through the building. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.
Three engine companies and three chief officers from the City of El Centro responded with 13 firefighters. Mutual aid resources from the City of Calexico, City of Brawley, Imperial County, City of Imperial, and City of Holtville added 15 firefighters to the scene for support in firefighting operations.
In total, 28 firefighters responded to the incident. Other cooperating agencies included the American Red Cross, IID, SCGC, ECCED and ECPW.
ECFD investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire. Any witnesses or individuals with information related to this fire should call (760) 337-4530.
