Second-alarm fire displaces family of three

Firefighters responded to a second alarm structure fire in the outskirts of El Centro Tuesday.

News 11’s Nico Payne was on scene and spoke to fire officials along with red cross volunteers who is helping the family that has been displaced because of the fire.

“It was actually fully engulfed from the get go, from the time we received the call,” said Alfredo Estrada, Deputy Trainee Chief with Imperial County Fire Department.

The fire erupted shortly before 11:30 a.m. at 905 Brockman Road, the cause of the fire yet to be determined.

“It’s still under investigation but basically we had a single story family dwelling that caught fire,” added Estrada.

Residents of the home asked our cameras to stay off the property, but were able to talk to the American Red Cross Disaster Reaction Team on sight, which will be helping the displaced family of three.

“A disaster reaction team is a group of individuals that work 24/7, they’re going to come in, interview the clients and see how they can help them out, whether it be with some monetary donation, or whether clothes, food or other items,” said Jose Ortega, Disaster Program Manager with Imperial County American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross volunteers provide a canteen service for firefighters and first responders as well as clients in need of their help.

“Most of the struggles are temperature related because of elevation. It’s high, it’s 120, 115 degrees, high humidity which usually exhausts our guys sooner, so they need to rehab a lot quicker,” explained Estrada.

One person was inside the home at the time of the fire but made it out safely. The American Red Cross provides services for up to 45 days, in some cases even longer.

“Basically up until they’re close to, back on to, back up onto their feet,” said Ortega.