Two Alarm Fire In El Cajon Destroys Single Story Home
July 10, 2009
Filed under Press Releases
Shortly after 12 noon, El Cajon Fire crews responded to a house fire at 861 Grossmont Avenue in El Cajon. As fire crews responded, a large plume of smoke could be seen at a distance, and when they arrived on scene, flames were shooting from the windows. It took 30 firefighters about 30 minutes to knock down the blaze. Crews from La Mesa Fire and the San Miguel Fire Protection District provided assistance.
An 82 year-old homeowner and her adult daughter were at home at the time of the fire. Before fire crews arrived, an off duty EMT as well as two City of El Cajon Public Works employees saw the smoke and responded to the home to see if anyone was in the structure. The adult daughter came out, followed shortly by her elderly mother, who was carrying her small dog from the burning room. One of the City workers quickly grabbed her pulling her out since flames were directly overhead. The woman received minor burns while rescuing her dog “Angel.” The EMT tended to the woman until paramedics arrived. The elderly female was transported to a nearby hospital. Her dog, a Chihuahua mix, was not injured.
The home is considered a total loss; the cause of fire is now under investigation. Preliminary estimates are $250-thousand for the home and its contents.
Photos taken by El Cajon Fire Battalion Chief Ted Kakuris and Carly Kakuris.
