Redlands firefighters respond to apartment fire and serious crash within an hour
Crews contained a Kansas Street apartment fire before assisting with a major rescue operation at Texas Street and Lugonia Avenue.
REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands firefighters responded to two major emergencies within less than an hour Wednesday afternoon, battling an apartment fire on Kansas Street before assisting with the rescue of occupants trapped in a serious traffic collision at Texas Street and Lugonia Avenue.
The first incident was reported at about 3:15 p.m. in the 00 block of Kansas Street, where firefighters arrived to find a second-floor apartment heavily involved in flames, according to the Redlands Fire Department.
Firefighters launched an aggressive attack on the fire and were able to contain it largely to the room where it started, preventing it from spreading throughout the apartment and into three neighboring units in the fourplex, according to the fire department.
"The rapid response and effective firefighting efforts of arriving personnel" helped limit the damage, Fire Captain and Public Information Officer Dustin Whitaker told Community Forward Redlands.
The apartment where the fire originated sustained significant smoke damage, while the unit below experienced water damage from firefighting operations, according to Whitaker.
Firefighters remained on scene for several hours extinguishing hidden hot spots, conducting overhaul operations and helping protect residents' belongings.
Whitaker said closed interior doors helped limit the spread of the fire.
"Closed doors can dramatically slow the spread of heat, smoke, and fire, providing valuable protection for occupants and property," Whitaker said. "We encourage residents to remember this simple but important fire safety practice."
The occupants of the affected apartment were not home when the fire started, according to the fire department. Five residents from neighboring units were displaced because of fire, smoke and water damage.
One person was transported to a local hospital after being bitten by an animal during the incident. No firefighters were injured.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Redlands Fire Department arson investigators.
Second emergency strains resources
While crews were still at the apartment fire, dispatchers received reports of a second major emergency at approximately 4 p.m. at Texas Street and Lugonia Avenue involving a traffic collision with a trapped occupant.
Because many Redlands fire resources were already committed to the structure fire, assistance was requested from San Bernardino County Fire Department Station 9 in Mentone.
As the rescue operation grew more complex, additional Redlands personnel and equipment were reassigned from the fire scene to assist with extricating the trapped patient, including Redlands Medic Truck 261, Medic Squad 264, and Deputy Chief 701.
Two people were transported with serious injuries to Loma Linda University Medical Center, while a third person with minor injuries was taken to Redlands Community Hospital, according to Whitaker.
"These incidents serve as a reminder that emergency incidents rarely occur one at a time," Whitaker said.
The back-to-back emergencies demonstrated the importance of regional cooperation among public safety agencies, he said.
"Maintaining an effective emergency response system requires close coordination with our regional partners and the ability to quickly shift resources where they are needed most," Whitaker said, adding that the response highlighted the teamwork between Redlands firefighters and neighboring agencies.
The fire department thanked personnel from the San Bernardino County Fire Department and Loma Linda Fire Department for assisting with the incidents.
Fire officials also reminded residents to practice fire safety at home by keeping bedroom doors closed when possible and to drive safely by avoiding distractions, obeying speed limits and remaining attentive behind the wheel.
