Fire victims at a blaze in Southern California sought refuge in a swimming pool after a fire broke out in a three-story apartment complex on 4th Street in Santa Monica. The fire was reported on April 2, at 10:39 a.m. , and multiple 9-1-1 calls were received by the Santa Monica Fire Department reporting a structure fire in the Wilmont neighborhood. Upon arrival, firefighters were met with a well-developed fire within one unit on the first floor of the apartment complex.
The firefighters immediately got to work, aggressively attacking the fire while simultaneously searching adjacent units to ensure no occupants were trapped. However, three residents and one dog were forced to jump into the swimming pool to escape the flames prior to the fire department’s arrival. The residents were lucky to have access to a pool nearby that literally saved their lives in this dangerous situation.
Within twenty minutes, the fire was extinguished before it spread to the units above, and it was confined to the first-floor unit where the fire originated. The quick response of the firefighters helped to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further, potentially causing more damage to the apartment complex and putting more lives at risk.
Due to the size and complexity of the apartment complex and the potential for fire spread and trapped occupants, the Santa Monica Fire Department requested resources from the Los Angeles Fire Department to assist. Additionally, Santa Monica Public Safety Communications, Santa Monica Police, Building & Safety, and McCormick Ambulance also assisted in the operation. The coordinated efforts of all these departments helped to prevent the fire from causing more damage and endangering more lives.
The incident is similar to one that occurred during the Paradise fire in 2017. During that incident, Armando Berriz, 76, and his wife of 55 years, Carmen, 75, also had to jump into a swimming pool to escape a raging wildfire. The pair stayed submerged for 5 to 6 hours only coming up for breath. Sadly, Carmen Berriz didn’t make it and eventually succumbed to either smoke inhalation or hypothermia from being in the pool for so long.
Thankfully, in this instance, there were no injuries to residents or first responders, and no residents were displaced from their homes. However, the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Santa Monica Fire Department investigators.
Both incidents highlight the importance of having a fire safety plan in place and knowing what to do in case of a fire. In both cases, the residents had to rely on nearby bodies of water to escape the flames. The fact that they had access to a swimming pool undoubtedly helped to save their lives.
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