At a Glance
- One person died in a fire at a two-house property in Alhambra.
- Three others were hospitalized with burn injuries.
- The blaze began Friday night before 11 p.m. on South Curtis Avenue.
- Why it matters: The incident underscores the danger of residential fires and the importance of rapid emergency response.
A blaze erupted Friday night at a two-house residence in Alhambra, killing one person and leaving three others with burn injuries.
The Fire
The fire was reported shortly before 11 p.m. Friday in the 1800 block of South Curtis Avenue, a couple of blocks west of Atlantic Boulevard and north of Interstate 10. The property had a front house and a back house, both one-story, and city officials said there were four adults living in the occupancy, two in each house. One occupant was pronounced dead on scene, while the others were transferred to local hospitals in varying degrees of injury.
- Front house: 2 adults
- Back house: 2 adults
- Casualties: 1 fatality, 3 hospitalized
Rescue and Response
Justin Jimenez, a wildland firefighter, filmed the incident and was heard breaking down the wall of the home.
Justin Jimenez stated:
> “The burning room was like a file cabinet right in front of it. So I had to kick it down and I had to move it for the file cabinet and for her to gain access out. She was like two feet away from flames and smoke. She was like drowning in smoke.”
He added:
> “It felt like a movie and just my adrenaline just helping try to save a life. And I was, thank God, I was able to save one life. But the other life I couldn’t save, unfortunately, my condolences to the family.”
Neighbors described the scene as chaotic, with firefighters racing into the home to rescue those still inside and provide medical care.
Unnamed neighbor said:
> “I felt sad because it’s like our neighbor and I’ve seen him around and now he’s gone. And that made me really sad.”
Current Status
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Key Takeaways
- The blaze began Friday night before 11 p.m. in Alhambra.
- One person died; three others were hospitalized.
- Rescue efforts involved a wildland firefighter who broke down a wall and neighbors who witnessed the chaos.
The incident highlights the need for vigilance in residential fire safety and the swift action of local responders.
