The OCFA responded to a fire in Santa Ana just past 5 p.m. this evening at the 2500 block of S. Orange Ave, according to the OCFA Twitter page. The fire took place a couple blocks southwest of Monroe Elementary.
The fire happened at a one story dwelling with fire in the attic. The first arriving crews were able to knock the fire down in approximately 15 minutes while simultaneously ensuring no victims were in the building.
Santa Ana, CA – May 13, 2020 – A four-alarm fire in the City of Santa Ana on Thursday, May 7, deemed arson, remains under investigation by Orange County Fire Authority and Santa Ana Police. Since the abandoned building, a former United Presbyterian church, was known to be frequented by transients, it was determined that a thorough search for any possible victims was needed.
Due to the extensive damage to the three-story building, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Type IV Urban Search and Rescue Task Force was deployed to help stabilize the structure and search through the rubble to ensure no one perished in the fire. The highly trained team utilized heavy equipment and rigging to remove large structural members and sections of the floor. During the three days of clearing, OCFA human remains detection canines continued to work the scene, in conjunction with Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD), and the Orange County Sheriff’s Coroner’s office.
Following an exhaustive search, it has been concluded that no one was lost in the fire.
In addition, fortunately, none of the 100 firefighters who battled this blaze in the 100 block of Santa Ana Boulevard that was reported at 2:27 a.m. was injured.
OCFA and SAPD investigators are continuing to work to identify the arson suspect(s) and make an arrest.
A massive fire broke out early this morning, just before 3 .a.m. at the abandoned United Presbyterian Church on Santa Ana building at the 100 Block of East Santa Ana Blvd.
The fire started out as a 3 alarm fire but it quickly became a 4 alarm fire with roughly 25 fire units and 100 firefighters on scene, according to the OCFA.
Early reports of an abandoned church with fire through the roof. Immediate upgrade to 3 alarms for additional resources.
The fire was declared knocked down at 4:38 a.m. No injuries to firefighters were reported at that time.
Fire units stayed on the scene for an extended amount of time to conduct overhaul and to begin a fire investigation.
The OCFA reported this afternoon that the burned building was not in use, and it was assessed at $2.2 million. It is a complete loss.
Fire investigators are still on scene and are still conducting their investigation.
Santa Ana City Councilman Phil Bacerra reported on Facebook this morning that the United Presbyterian Church congregation initially met at the home of James McFadden and then subsequently in other church buildings. The building that was destroyed by fire today was dedicated on May 22, 1912. It was just 15 days shy of its 108th birthday.
While the fire was tragic at least now the NIMBYs won’t be able to stop new development from happening at this location.
One of our Facebook readers reported earlier today that something was going on at McFadden and Bristol involving paramedics, firefighters and police. Now we know what happened.
The OCFA reported on Twitter that there was a structure fire at 9:33 a.m. Another reader sent us the address, which came from the Pulse Point app. The fire happened at 1317 W. McFadden.
The fire was deemed to be caused by electrical failure of an outside refrigerator. The fire extended into the home but was held to one interior room by quick aggressive firefighting from the OCFA firefighters.
There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. Unfortunately eight adults and ten children were displaced as a result of the fire.
The OCFA reminds us to have an exit plan in place and review it multiple times with our children.
OCFA firefighters responded to a fire at a boarded up vacant building just before 9 am in Santa Ana today at 1904 W. 1st St., according to the OCFA Twitter account.
The firefighters had to force their way in the building, through heavy black smoke.
Investigators were at the scene. No injuries were reported.
The fire happened at what used to be Antojitos Don Chepe, a restaurant.
Arrestee: Isaiah Emmanuel Castillo (33)
A person of interest in an arson case dating back to 12/01/2019 was identified as Isaiah Castillo and is in custody, charged with 4 counts of arson.
ORIGINAL MESSAGE –
Description: Male, Hispanic, 5’6”, medium build, eyeglasses, dark hooded sweatshirt and pants, dark/light colored shoes, light colored backpack.
On 12/01/2019 at 5:30 AM, an unknown suspect intentionally lit a door on fire at a hotel located in the 100 block of East MacArthur Blvd. This unidentified suspect is a person of interest in this arson investigation.
Video Surveillance:
Anyone with information identifying the suspect in this case is asked to contact Detective A. Castro at (714) 245-8345 or acastro@santa-ana.org.
A man who had doused himself and his car with gasoline on Standard Ave., in Santa Ana, on Wednesday was hosed down by OCFA firefighters during a tense standoff that was caught on video, according to KTLA.
The SAPD got a call from the man’s mother after he began to act suicidal. The situation then escalated when the man doused himself with gasoline and then got into his car, according to the SAPD.
Both the SAPD and the OCFA responded to the scene. While a hostage negotiator spoke with the man it became apparent that he had a lighter in his hand.
During the incident the police officers felt that attempts to deescalate the situation were not working. Then one of the firefighters approached the man and began to hose him down with water.
The man was eventually taken safely from the car and he was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation.
The police did not reveal the man’s name.
The Orange County Crisis Prevention Hotline provides toll-free, 24-hour, immediate, confidential, culturally and linguistically appropriate, over-the-phone suicide prevention services to anyone, who is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Call (877) 7-CRISIS or (877) 727-4747.
On 12/01/2019 at 5:30 AM, an unknown suspect intentionally lit a door on fire at a hotel located in the 100 block of East MacArthur Blvd. This unidentified suspect is a person of interest in this arson investigation.
Description: Male, Hispanic, 5’6”, medium build, eyeglasses, dark hooded sweatshirt and pants, dark/light colored shoes, light colored backpack.
Anyone with information identifying the suspect in this case is asked to contact Detective A. Castro at (714) 245-8345 or acastro@santa-ana.org.
A suspicious fire at the MetroPro Road Services tow yard at 2550 S. Garnsey Avenue on Friday night, Nov. 29, burned about 13 cars, according to the O.C. Register.
OCFA firefighters were got the call just after 11:30 p.m. Whey they arrived they found that several vehicles were on fire. They were able to put out the fire and no injuries were reported.
The SAPD uses this tow yard for their towing services. The tow yard also offers towing services to other parties.
OCFA investigators believe the fire may have been an act of arson. This has not yet confirmed. SAPD police investigators will be working with OCFA investigators to determine if any criminal actions were involved.
A fire broke out at a granny flat this afternoon in Santa Ana at the 500 block of S. Garnsey St., according to the OCFA. The fire occurred just south of Santa Ana High School.
It took crews just 23 minutes to knock down the fire in Santa Ana after dispatched at 2:44 pm. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is unknown.
The Red Cross was called to assist 3 displaced adults after the fire extended into the home.
We reported a major fire yesterday via our Facebook page and now we know what happened – it was possibly an illegal drug lab that caught fire.
The OCFA reported that their Emergency Communications Center received a report of a Fire around the 2000 block of S. Main Street at 12:09. This happened just south of Superior Grocers, at W. St. Andrew Place.
The OCFA firefighters were able to knock-down the fire with around 35 firefighters. No injuries were reported.
The firefighters encountered what appeared to be a drug lab while trying to douse the building, according to the O.C. Register.
The drug lab was described as an elaborate honey oil operation, according to KTLA.
Hash oil, also known as honey oil or cannabis oil, is an oleoresin obtained by the extraction of cannabis or hashish. It is a concentrated form of cannabis extracts containing many of its resins and terpenes – in particular, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids. There are various extraction methods, most involving a solvent, such as butane or ethanol. Hash oil is usually consumed by smoking, vaporizing or eating. Hash oil may be sold in cartridges used with pen vaporizers. Preparations of hash oil may be solid or colloidal depending on both production method and temperature and are usually identified by their appearance or characteristics. Color most commonly ranges from transparent golden or light brown, to tan or black. Cannabis retailers in California have reported about 40% of their sales are from cannabis oils, according to Wikipedia.
Proactive Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Totals as of JUNE 28, 2019, from the SAPD:
Everyone is strongly encouraged to only use safe and sane fireworks. Santa Ana PD will continue to enforce the law and issue citations for illegal fireworks.
You can anonymously report possession/use of illegal fireworks by calling(714) 245-8771
Do you remember the Marie Callender’s restaurant that used to be located at 1821 N. Grand Ave., in Santa Ana? It has been closed for some time but things took a turn for the worse early on Saturday morning when a fire broke out at the abandoned building.
OCFA Firefighters responded to the scene at 1:29 a.m., according to the OCFA Twitter page.
The firefighters were able to put out the fire in about 40 minutes. No injuries to any civilians or firefighters were reported.
The fire caused $80,000 in damages to the building and $60,000 to the contents, according to the OCFA.
The SAPD questioned a few people who were near the building at the time of the fire, but no one was arrested, according to the O.C. Register.
A couple of people were questioned near the building early Saturday morning, but no arrests were made, said Santa Ana Police Sgt. Andy Alvarez.
Marie Callender’s filed for bankruptcy back in 2011, and ended up closing over 60 locations. Locally there are Marie Callender’s in Anaheim, Buena Park, Orange, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Westminster. In total there are 49 locations still open, according to their website. Their first restaurant opened up in Orange, in 1964.
Update: Suspect Ruben Valdez Garcia (44) In Custody
On 4-19-2019 at approximately 1:45pm a community member contacted SAPD Communication advising, the wanted arson suspect they saw posted on social media was walking southbound in the 700 block of South Harbor Blvd. Responding officers located suspect Garcia in the 1100 block of South Harbor Blvd where he was taken into custody without incident. Garcia was booked into SAPD Jail for the charge of Arson.
Original Post: Suspect: Ruben Valadez Garcia (44) Santa Ana: Male Hispanic, 5-6, 190, Black Hair and Brown Eyes
On 4-18-19 at 8:47am, Officers were dispatched to assist the Orange County Fire Authority with a fire located at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park, 4800 Block of West First Street. After the fire was extinguished by the OCFA, their Arson Investigators responded and took over the investigation. Arson Investigators worked with detectives from SAPD and determined the fire was an arson. The suspect was identified as Ruben Valdez Garcia (44). Video from the complex shows Garcia walking up to an inhabited mobile home where he lit two large bushes on fire that were located along the west side of the mobile home. The fire spread causing the front of the home to catch fire. At the time of the fire, there were two residents inside who were able to escape unharmed.
Video Surveillance: https://youtu.be/sT5RkL9gRvg
Suspect Garcia resides at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park; however, has not returned to his residence since the fire and remains at large. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of suspect Garcia is asked to SAPD Detective A. Castro at 714-245-8375, acastro@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
Suspect: Ruben Valadez Garcia (44) Santa Ana: Male Hispanic, 5-6, 190, Black Hair and Brown Eyes
On 4-18-19 at 8:47am, SAPD police officers were dispatched to assist the Orange County Fire Authority with a fire located at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park, 4800 Block of West First Street. After the fire was extinguished by the OCFA, their Arson Investigators responded and took over the investigation. Arson Investigators worked with detectives from SAPD and determined the fire was an arson.
The suspect was identified as Ruben Valdez Garcia (44), by the SAPD. Video from the complex shows Garcia walking up to an inhabited mobile home where he lit two large bushes on fire that were located along the west side of the mobile home. The fire spread causing the front of the home to catch fire. At the time of the fire, there were two residents inside who were able to escape unharmed.
Suspect Garcia resides at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park; however, has not returned to his residence since the fire and remains at large.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of suspect Garcia is asked to SAPD Detective A. Castro at 714-245-8375, acastro@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.