Aurora Drive Structure Fire

Conditions outside soon after knockdown.

Glenview: At 2:39pm on June 7th, Lakeside units were dispatched to a multi-family residential structure fire at the Los Coches Estates Mobile Home Park located at 13217 Aurora Drive. Lakeside's Battalion 1(Laff), Engines 3, 1, 26S and  Medic 3 responded along with El Cajon Engine 7 ,Truck 6 and Cal Fire Engine 3382. As Engine 3 arrived on scene Captain Mark Grow reported a working structure fire with heavy smoke coming from a double-wide mobile home. Grow established Aurora Incident Command(IC). Medic 3 and Engine 1 arrived next and were assigned Fire Attack to go inside the home with hose lines. Engine 3382 was assigned Rapid Intervention Crew(RIC) and Engine 26s was assigned Ventilation.

Engineer Carl Chiodo reports to Captain Darby on interior conditions.

 A quick assessment of the situation resulted in the decision by Grow to pass the IC to Engine 1(Captain Darby) and initiate an aggressive interior attack with his crew to prevent the fire from spreading through the entire structure. Battalion 1 arrived soon thereafter to assume the IC role and Darby was re-assigned to Operations. The aggressive strategy was a success to halt the flame spread and a knockdown was achieved.  Engine 7 and Truck 6 assisted with Fire Attack.

The fire originated in the laundry room, spread to a hallway and into the attic space. Lakeside Fire investigators determined that the cause was a build up of lint in the gas clothes dryer vent. The occupants were not at home at the time of the fire although three family pets were inside and were rescued unharmed. The Red Cross was called to provide assistance for the two adults, two children and the animals who were displaced by the fire. Fire loss has been set at $150,000.

Units from the El Cajon Fire Department and CalFire assisted Lakeside crews.

This house fire is a reminder to avoid leaving your gas appliances running while not at home and to inspect and clean your dryer vent annually. Learn more about Clothes Dryer Fires from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission here.

Submitted By: Captain Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire District
Photos By: Engineer Steve Schleif, Capt. Chuck Palmore, Capt. Mark Grow