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Category Archives: OCFA

Several vehicles were burned in a fire at a Tustin apartment complex carport

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Fire occurred in the 13900 block of Tustin East Dr. at a carport early in the morning on April 19. Tustin PD responded to the area assist the OCFA firefighters.

Numerous vehicles in the detached carport structure were fully engulfed in flames. OCFA quickly extinguished the blaze and arson was not determined to be at play. The firefighters were able to knockdown the fire before it could extend into the nearby apartments.

Preventing exposures (in this case the apartment) from catching fire is a top priority on every fire. No injuries & cause is under investigation.

Firefighters battled a residential blaze in Santa Ana’s Madison Park Neighborhood this evening

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It took OCFA firefighters nine minutes to knock down a fully-involved garage fire in the 1300 block of S Cedar St. in the City of Santa Ana this evening.

The firefighters were able to prevent the spread into the house. Crews searched the home and ensured everyone was out. No injuries reported. The cause is under investigation.

The fire occurred in the Madison Park Neighborhood, near Madison Elementary.

A fire broke out this evening at 2525 N. Main St.

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A two alarm fire broke out this evening, at a out 7:45 p.m., at the dilapidated office building at 2525 North Main Street in Santa Ana, according to the OCFA.

Demolition had started this morning at that same structure.

The fire was knocked down and confined to the first floor of the abandoned building. Investigators are at the scene.

Approximately 55 firefighters were on scene finishing a search of the vast spaces inside. The OCFA reported no victims found at this time and no injuries reported.

The Orange Fire Department assisted at the scene as did the SAPD.

The SAPD has blocked Edgewood at N. Bush St. and is diverting cars entering the Park Santiago Neighborhood down Bush St. to Santa Clara. It appears that they blocked off N. Main St. and are diverting the traffic through the neighborhood.

A serious car accident occurred this afternoon near Carl Thornton Park

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An MCI (Multi-Casualty Incident) was declared after a two-vehicle traffic collision at W. Segerstrom/S. Raitt in
Santa Ana this afternoon, by the OCFA. The collision occurred about a block west of Carl Thornton Park.

The MCI involved up to nine people. Two of the victims were treated/transported by paramedics to local trauma centers.

The Fountain Valley Fire Dept. assisted at the scene.

Firefighters put out a fire in Santa Ana that damaged two homes

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OCFA firefighters responded to a residential fire in Santa Ana today at 11:42 a.m. at the 700 block of Susan St.

When the firefighters arrived on scene they found an exterior fire that had began to catch two roofs on fire.

They rapidly extinguished the fire preventing the fire from extending into either home.

There were no injuries and the cause remains under investigation.

The OCFA battled a large commercial fire in Santa Ana this morning

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The OCFA reported a 2 alarm commercial fire in Santa Ana this morning at an industrial strip center at the 2000 block of Yale, just south of Warner.

Initial crews reported heavy fire in the middle unit. They were attempting to hold the fire to one unit. Heavy overhaul in progress.

Approximately fifty plus firefighters were at the scene. The OCFA firefighters were assisted by firefighters from Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa.

Overhaul and investigation continues. No injuries reported at this time.

Possible water rescue underway on S. Raitt St., south of Edinger

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One of our readers has reported that apparently someone may have fallen into a runoff channel down S. Raitt, south of Edinger.

There are firetrucks at the scene as well as a helicopter.

The police are apparently trying to close down the street and the helicopter is broadcasting a message, all the way down to Warner.

Another reader said that “someone got stuck in the tunnel by Carr Middle School.”

UPDATE – the OCFA is now reporting that two victims are in the water at Raitt and Edinger.

A man and woman were discovered underneath a bridge in the closed channel hanging onto the side of the channel. Rescuers sent a boat into the channel and underneath the bridge and were able to recover the two without incident.

UPDATE – An adult male and female were assessed by firefighter paramedics. The female was transported to the hospital for leg pain, and was in stable condition. The male declined treatment.

A worker died in Orange after soil collapsed on him at a pool construction job

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Luciano Gonzalez Munoz, a 45-year-old man from Puebla, Mexico, died yesterday, Dec. 19, after the soil around a swimming pool being constructed in the backyard of a home in Orange collapsed on him, not once but twice.

The victim was in the hole when the soil from the top slipped down on him. The home has a backyard that backs up to a cliff.

The victim was part of a crew of four or five workers.

The City of Orange firefighters responded to the scene, at the 6200 block of Cliffway Drive, just after 10:40 a.m. When they arrived the found that the man was buried shoulder deep at the bottom of a nine to ten foot hole in the ground. The firefighters began trying to do what is referred to as a trench rescue.

After the firefighters had been working on the rescue effort for about a half hour another collapse completely buried the victim and they were no longer able to communicate with him.

The rescue operation then became a body recovery operation. At that point the O.C. Coroner was summoned and the incident was reported to Cal/OSHA. As this was a construction site, Cal/OSHA will conduct a formal investigation.

Update – the body was recovered on Dec. 20, with the help of a construction crane. The victim has not yet been identified by the OC Coroner.

Cal/OSHA has a standard regarding Excavations. The regulation dictates how workers in excavations must be protected. What has happened in similar incidents is the dirt removed from the excavation is placed too close to the excavation, creating the hazard that it might fall back in.

If the victim’s employer did not properly assess the job site, protect the workers and train them they could be looking at serious or perhaps even willful violations. Because this was a work-related accident the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier will likely have to pay the victim’s family a death benefit which could total $320,000 for three or more total dependents.

If Cal/OSHA determines that the employer was liable and negligent the family of the victim could retain a lawyer and pursue a civil claim as well.

About 75 rescuers from the Orange and Huntington Beach Fire Departments, Anaheim Fire and Rescue, the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange City Water Department were on the scene.

A man was arrested after allegedly setting fires behind Saddleback H.S.

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A man set multiple fires along the bike trail behind Saddleback High School, in the 900 block of West Alton Avenue, in Santa Ana early on Thursday morning, at about 1 am., Nov. 26, according to the OCFA.

Residents and SAPD police officers used garden hoses to protect the homes that were at risk as OCFA firefighters put out the blaze.

The combined efforts succeeded in putting out the fire and the homes and backyards were saved.

The SAPD arrested a male suspect who was nearby in connection with the fires, but his name was not revealed. The SAPD has not yet established a motive. The OCFA and SAPD are investigating.

A fire was put out after a car ran into a Santa Ana building

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Firefighters wer e at the 2000 block of W. 1st St. in Santa Ana for a fire incident.

Firefighters quickly knocked down a fire caused by a vehicle that ran into a building and prevented extension into business.

Assistance provided by the Santa Ana Police Department.

A dead body was found at a brush fire by the Santa Ana River

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On Thursday, November 19th, 2020, at 3:26 a.m., Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded to a call of a brush fire along the Santa Ana riverbed trail, near the 3000 block of West First St. Firefighters located a small fire in shrubbery which was quickly extinguished.

The partially burned body of a deceased male was then located within the shrubbery. SAPD was notified of the suspicious death and SAPD Homicide Detectives assumed the investigation.

The circumstances surrounding the male’s death are currently being investigated. The identity of the male remains unknown pending identification by the Orange County Coroner’s Office.

Detectives are attempting to identify and locate any witnesses who can shed light on this incident.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call SAPD Homicide Section Detectives at (714) 245-8390, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

A fire near a Santa Ana apartment building was put out today

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OCFA firefighters took less than 15 minutes to knock down a large outbuilding fire threatening a 2-story apartment complex in the 300 block of S. Orange in Santa Ana, earlier this afternoon.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The OCFA received assistance from the City of Orange Fire Department.

Local O.C. fires and high winds lead to warning to stay indoors and limit outdoor activity

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Due to nearby wildfires, the air quality in Santa Ana and much of Orange County is considered “hazardous” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The AQMD advises a “health warning of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected. Everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors.” If you can smell smoke or see ash from a wildfire, avoid or limit outdoor activities.

The City of Santa Ana is closing public swimming pools, Boo at the Zoo and other outdoor City activities until the air quality improves. Today’s Santa Ana CARES Mobile Resource Center at Adams Park is ending early in order to protect the health of the public and City staff.

No evacuation orders have been issued for Santa Ana.

The National Weather Service has also issued a high-wind warning in our area until 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. Please be cautious of downed trees, debris and power lines, low visibility caused by dust, and risks to high-profile vehicles.

The NWS advises that people avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive.

To report downed trees and debris, call the Santa Ana Public Works Agency at (714) 647-3380, email PWADispatch@santa-ana.org or download the mySantaAna app.

For downed power lines, call 911.

Public Safety Power Outages are also possible.

The County of Orange’s Emergency Operations Center has a public information hotline for wildfire-related questions: (714) 628-7085.

Get air quality updates at www.aqmd.gov/home/air-quality.

Instructions:

Stay indoors if possible and avoid all physical activity outdoors. Avoid trees and use caution when driving.

Permanezca en el Interior y Limite la Actividad al Aire Libre

Debido a los incendios forestales cercanos, el Distrito de Administración de la Calidad del Aire de la Costa Sur (AQMD) considera “peligrosa” la calidad del aire en Santa Ana y gran parte del Condado de Orange.

La AQMD aconseja una “advertencia sanitaria de condiciones de emergencia. Es más probable que toda la población se vea afectada. Todo el mundo debería evitar toda actividad física al aire libre”. Si puede oler humo o ver cenizas de un incendio forestal, evite o limite las actividades al aire libre.

La Ciudad de Santa Ana cerrará las albercas públicas, Boo en el Zoo y otras actividades al aire libre de la Ciudad hasta que mejore la calidad del aire. El Centro de Recursos Móvil CARES de Santa Ana de hoy en Adams Park está terminando temprano para proteger la salud del público y del personal de la Ciudad.

No se han emitido órdenes de evacuación para Santa Ana.

El Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (NWS) también ha emitido una advertencia de fuertes vientos en nuestra área hasta las 2 p.m. el martes 27 de octubre. Tenga cuidado con los árboles caídos, los escombros y las líneas eléctricas, la baja visibilidad causada por el polvo y los riesgos para los vehículos de alto perfil.

El NWS aconseja que las personas eviten estar afuera en áreas boscosas y alrededor de árboles y ramas. Si es posible, permanezca en los niveles más bajos de su casa durante la tormenta de viento y evite las ventanas. Tenga cuidado si debe conducir.

Para reportar árboles caídos y escombros, llame a la Agencia de Obras Públicas de Santa Ana al (714) 647-3380, envíe un correo electrónico a PWADispatch@santa-ana.org o descargue la aplicación mySantaAna.

Para líneas eléctricas caídas, llame al 911.

También son posibles cortes de energía de seguridad pública.

El Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia del Condado de Orange tiene una línea directa de información pública para preguntas relacionadas con incendios forestales: (714) 628-7085.

Obtenga actualizaciones sobre la calidad del aire en www.aqmd.gov/home/air-quality.