Hook paragraph
The Fire
Video from the Orange County Fire Authority shows the two‑story home on South Linda Way engulfed in flames. The fire may have started on the first floor around 1:30 a.m. Friday, investigators said.
A security camera across the street captured the father urging his 11‑year‑old son to open a window in Spanish. “Open the window, son! Jump!” he shouted as he pounded on the sleeping son’s window. “Come out this way, son,” he said in the video in Spanish, sounding remarkably calm while flames surrounded the first floor.
“Five people are alive today thanks to the heroic actions of a 67-year-old man at his home on South Linda Way in @CityofSantaAna.”
The Rescue
Firefighters said the father, his wife, two sons, and an elderly woman trapped upstairs were rescued by the father’s quick actions.
Capt. Sean Doran described the scene: “The husband opened the door and felt the heat and the smoke coming up through the house.” He then jumped out the bedroom window onto a back patio about nine feet tall, landing on the grass. Doran added that the father grabbed a ladder, placed it back onto the patio so his wife could escape safely without having to jump. “Next, the father went one by one to each bedroom window with the ladder and got everyone out safely,” Doran said.
The older son was the last to escape and called 911.
Frank Ramirez said, “To save his family the way he did, that’s just instinctual.”
Community Reactions
Neighbors said the father’s name is Tony, a landscaper who has owned the house for more than 30 years.
Yancey Barboza said, “(Tony has) owned this place for 30 plus years, and for that to happen to him and his family, it’s pretty heartbreaking.”
Ramirez also recalled seeing Tony after the fire. “He was distraught and full of fear. He almost lost everything. This is nothing compared to losing his son and wife,” Ramirez said. “Thank God he got that much out of it. The rest of it is replaceable.”
Firefighters said overnight fires are often delayed because people don’t wake up, but in this case the wife smelled smoke and everyone had doors closed, which helped block the smoke.
Key Takeaways
- 67‑year‑old father rescued wife, two sons and an elderly roommate from a house fire.
- The father used a ladder to pull everyone out of bedroom windows after jumping onto a 9‑foot patio.
- The fire started around 1:30 a.m. on the first floor and the cause remains under investigation.
The dramatic rescue left five survivors and underscored how quick action and preparedness can save lives during overnight blazes.
Hi, I’m Ethan R. Coleman, a dedicated journalist and content creator at newsoflosangeles.com — your trusted source for the latest news, insights, and stories from Los Angeles and beyond.
With over 7 years of experience in digital media, I specialize in reporting on breaking news, local culture, community affairs, and impactful events shaping the City of Angels. My passion lies in telling stories that matter — stories that inform, engage, and empower readers.
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