By Patrick Reitz
Idyllwild Fire Chief
At about 1 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, Idyllwild Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a structure fire in the 54400 block of Strawberry Valley Drive. Upon arrival on scene, personnel found that the resident had extinguished the fire.
Residents who noticed the fire outside woke the other inhabitants and alerted them to the danger. The fire extended to the inside of the structure when the resident opened the doors to investigate. A garden hose was used to extinguish the fire.
Units and personnel remained on-scene for more than two hours checking for fire extension, extinguishing hotspots and investigating the fire.
An investigation into the cause of the fire discovered combustible material too close to or in direct contact with an exterior exhaust assembly of a propane heater, which was inside of the structure.
Damage was limited to an exterior wall and door of the structure, exterior roof over-hang, interior wall and ceiling area of one room, with minor water damage to one room and smoke damage throughout the structure. No damage estimate was available at the time of the incident. The investigation also found no working smoke detectors in the residence.
IFD initially responded with one engine, one ambulance, one command unit and four personnel. Riverside County/Cal Fire also responded as mutual aid with multiple units, and was canceled prior to arriving.
IFD reminds everyone to have working smoke detectors, and those that heat with wood and propane to have a working carbon monoxide detector. Also, those managing and/or owning rental properties are required by law to provide and have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in rental properties.
Contact the local fire department for more information and assistance regarding installing and maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.