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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: OCFA

A suspicious fire broke out a tow yard used by the SAPD

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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 home near Santa Ana High School was damaged by a fire this afternoon

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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.

Two car accidents in Santa Ana early this morning and one involved an SAPD police car

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An SAPD police officer crashed his patrol car into another vehicle at about 2 a.m. this morning, at S. Main and W. Camille Streets., according to the O.C. Register.

The police officer was on the way to a pursuit when the accident occurred. His patrol vehicle struck the motorist’s vehicle and a light pole.

Both the police officer and the other motorist were injured and both were conveyed to local hospitals.

Another car accident occurred at approx 3:30 a.m. at the 2200 block of South Shelton, near Memorial Park. In that incident a vehicle struck a cement wall after a car accident.

Responding firefighters used the “jaws of life” to cut out three patients trapped in the car . Three adult males were transported to a local hospital.

The SAPD is investigating, according to the OCFA’s Twitter account.

A second fatal car accident occurred in Santa Ana on Saturday

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On Saturday, October 12th, 2019 at approximately 10:50 AM, the Santa Ana and Garden Grove Police Departments received several calls of a major traffic collision in the intersection of Newhope Street and Westminster Blvd. involving two vehicles.

Initial calling parties said one of the vehicle’s involved was on fire with people trapped in the vehicle. Officers from both departments responded to the area with lights and sirens (code-3) and found the two vehicles involved in the collision.

They quickly determined the vehicles were not on fire. The first vehicle located was a 2013 purple Hyundai Sonata. The vehicle came to rest on southwest corner against a large light pole with major damage on the passenger side of the vehicle.

There were four occupants in the vehicle at the time of the collision. The adult male driver suffered bruising to his face and jaw and OCFA medics transported him to OC Global to be treated. Two adult females seated back seat of the vehicle suffered major internal injuries and OCFA medics transported them to nearby hospitals. One of the female passengers is currently in critical condition. A male adult passenger seated in the right front seat of the vehicle suffered major upper body injuries and OCFA Medics pronounced him deceased at the scene of the collision.

The second vehicle involved was a 2014 black Toyota Corolla. The vehicle was stopped on Newhope Street facing north in the southbound lanes with moderate damage to the left front side of the vehicle. The adult male driver reported no injuries and remained at the scene.

The preliminary investigation based on statements and video surveillance, shows the driver of the 2014 Toyota Corolla stopped on Newhope Street in the left turn lane facing north waiting for traffic to clear. Traffic appeared to be flowing north and south in both directions at normal speeds. The driver of the 2013 Hyundai was travelling south on Newhope Street in the number one lane when he was struck in the left rear portion of the vehicle by the Toyota Camry as he was making a left turn. He lost control of the vehicle and collided into the large streetlight located at the southwest corner. Neither alcohol and drugs appear to be a factor in this collision.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) is handling the investigation. Anyone possibly having information about this collision is asked to contact Investigator W. Hadley at (714) 245-8216 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200

A fatal traffic collision occurred this morning in northwest Santa Ana

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On Saturday, October 12th, 2019 at approximately 9:58 AM, the Santa Ana and Garden Grove Police Departments received several calls of a major traffic collision on North Susan Street and Westminster Blvd. involving two vehicles.

Officers from both departments responded to the area and found two vehicles located on the southeast corner of the intersection with major damage. Officers located an elderly male driver sitting in the driver seat of a 2004 silver Honda Civic non-responsive. He appeared to be the only occupant in the vehicle still trapped.

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and used the “jaws of life” to extract him. According to OCFA Medics, the driver suffered major injuries to his upper body and OCFA transported him to UCI for treatment. The elderly male driver was pronounced deceased at the Hospital.

Officers located a second driver involved in this collision. The female adult driver and her two small children were standing on the sidewalk near her 2006 burgundy Jeep Grand Cherokee. The children were in the vehicle during the time of the crash. All three of them suffered minor injuries to their heads and arms. Medical personnel transported them to the Garden Grove Hospital to be treated.

The preliminary investigation based on statements and video surveillance, shows the driver of the 2004 silver Honda Civic stopped on Susan Street facing north at Westminster Blvd. The driver entered the intersection at a slow speed to make a left turn onto Westminster Blvd. Video surveillance shows the vehicle completely stopping in the #2 lane just prior to impact.

The driver of the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee was travelling in the number two lane on Westminster Blvd at safe speeds attempted to avoid the collision by veering to the right. Her vehicle collided into the driver side of the 2004 Honda Civic. Both vehicles came to rest on the southeast corner of the intersection. Neither alcohol or drugs appear to be a factor in this collision.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) is handling the investigation. Anyone possibly having information about this collision is asked to contact Investigator N. Quinones at (714) 245-8284 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200

The OCFA is trying to rescue a woman from a Santa Ana storm drain

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A few of our readers contacted us on our Facebook page this evening to report that there were quite a few police cars and fire engines at Fairview and Willits.

Turns out an unidentified woman fell into a storm drain, according to the OCFA’s Twitter page.

The OCFA is referring to this as a Technical Rescue. The responding units included Heavy Rescue 6, Hazmat and additional units.

No additional details available yet.

A honey oil lab was found in a burning Santa Ana building yesterday

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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.

The vacant Marie Callender’s in Santa Ana was damaged in a fire on Saturday morning

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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.

Two people died when their car slammed into a tree in Santa Ana tonight

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https://www.facebook.com/QuePasaEnOC/videos/1763731803727057/

A car crashed into a tree at Bear St. and Alton Ave. this evening at about 9:18 p.m., killing two people, according to the O.C. Register.

OCFA firefighters responded to the scene. Only one car was involved.

The two occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names, ages and genders were not made available.

The cause of the crash is being investigated by the SAPD..

Five cats were saved from a burning Santa Ana home by firefighters

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OCFA firefighters in Santa Ana came to the rescue of five cats trapped inside a burning home on Monday afternoon, according to ABC News.

A home located at the 300 block of East Virginia Street caught fire and responding firefighters quickly doused the flames as they searched for any residents inside the building. What they found was not people but rather five cats.

Sadly two other cats died as a result of the fire. The remaining cats were in rough shape. The firemen gave them oxygen via special air masks designed for cats. All OCFA firetrucks now carry these masks to help revive pets and save their lives.

OCFA firefighters believe the fire may have been started by the people living there as there appeared to be food left cooking on the stove.

The firefighters were able to contain the flames to the home’s kitchen and den. Damage is estimated at $220,000.

No humans were injured.

A Santa Ana condo was damaged when a suspected drug lab exploded this morning

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A fire broke out at a Santa Ana condominium this morning just before 10:45 a.m. when a suspected drug lab exploded, according to the SAPD’s Twitter account.

Witnesses heard an explosion before the fire began. Fortunately no one was injured.

A suspicious car was pointed out to the first-responders by witnesses. SAPD police officers stopped the vehicle and searched it, about a block away from the condo. The officers found about five pounds of marijuana and items that are used to extract the drug’s oils in the vehicle, according to the O.C. Register.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested. The SAPD has not yet made his name available to the media.

Because of the explosion the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Bomb Squad was called to the scene to investigate.

A man was arrested after four people were killed in a suspected DUI crash in Santa Ana early this morning

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Four people died in a horrific traffic accident early this morning in Santa Ana when Vincent Michael Calvo, a 28-year-old Buena Park man, allegdly sped through a red light and struck another vehicle, in what police suspect was a DUI crash.

On Sunday February 17th, 2019 at 0229 hours, SAPD Officers were dispatched Code 3 (lights and sirens) to the area of ‪4th Street‬ and Tustin Avenue for a reported two vehicle traffic collision with both vehicles being overturned. The vehicles were found in the eastbound lanes of 4th west of Tustin.

A calling party reported the occupants in a white Chevy Silverado were trapped and the vehicle was catching fire. An off-duty firefighter and his wife, an off-duty nurse, were passing by and stopped to render aid. Officers arrived on scene and found the occupants of the white truck unresponsive and trapped inside the vehicle. The driver of the black Jeep Wrangler was found lying in the roadway adjacent to the vehicle and was able speak to officers, according to the SAPD.

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and determined all four occupants of the white truck were deceased as a result of the collision. The 28-year-old driver of the black Jeep, identified as Vincent Michael Calvo of Buena Park, appeared to be extremely impaired at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries before being later released and arrested for suspicion of DUI. He faces four counts of murder as well as felony DUI.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) responded to the collision and handled the investigation. Investigators have secured surveillance video, which shows the black Jeep traveling westbound on ‪4th Street‬ and the white Chevrolet pickup truck traveling southbound on Tustin when the Jeep fails to stop for the red signal light before entering the intersection and broadsiding the truck. The investigation is on-going and anyone possibly having any information regarding this collision is asked to contact Collision Investigator – Corporal ‪Brett Nelson‬ at ‪(714) 245-8208‬.

A suspicious package sickened four County workers at the O.C. Courthouse today

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There was a commotion this afternoon at about 2 p.m. at the Orange County Courthouse as several County workers had to be treated for symptoms related to the opening of a suspicious package found at the main Courthouse according to the OC Sheriff.

A total of four individuals were affected, including one Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy and three civilian court workers.

The Deputy and one of the civilians were transported to a hospital. The two additional civilians were in the process of being transported for medical treatment but had no life-threatening injuries.

There were no evacuations as surrounding courtrooms were holding in place and the Court’s west wing was contained.

A sheriff’s deputy and three court workers were treated for unspecified symptoms after a suspicious package was found at Orange County’s main courthouse in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 17.

The item was found in a courtroom, which was not in session, on the third floor of 700 Civic Center Drive in the courthouse’s west wing according to the O.C. Register.

The symptoms reported by the affected deputy included having difficulty breathing and skin irritation.

OCFA Haz-Mat & the OCSD Bomb squad were jointly investigating.

According to one of our readers Eastbound traffic on Civic Center is blocked due to the ongoing Sheriff’s investigation.

An elderly woman was saved after her car got stuck on a Santa Ana train track

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An elderly Santa Ana woman in her 90’s was saved by two witnesses after she got involved in a car accident on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at about 3:15 p.m. Her car, a white Pontiac Grand Am, got stuck on the train tracks at 17th and Lincoln Ave. after the two-car collision, as a train was approaching. That’s when two witnesses rushed to her aid, according to the O.C. Register.

Two people pushed her car off of the railroad tracks before an oncoming Amtrak train struck the sedan’s open driver side door.

A Fullerton resident, Kanwar Singh, was driving home from a doctor’s appointment, when he saw the collision. He pulled over to help and was able to carry the woman out of her vehicle just in time.

The woman was taken to an area trauma center by OCFA medics. The SAPD was investigating incident, according to the OCFA.