By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
CORONA, Calif. — The Corona Fire Department released a report detailing a fire at a restaurant that trapped two firefighters.
The commercial building fire happened the morning of Aug. 11 at the HON Sushi Restaurant.
When units arrived, they observed flames coming from the roof. Fire command immediately requested additional units to help combat the fire. During the operation, a section of the roof collapsed, trapping two firefighters. Fortunately, no firefighters were injured.
The department released detailed information about the near-miss incident in a document presenting fireground actions and lessons learned.
Dispatch and response
At 07:21, Ontario Dispatch received a report of a structure fire at 1511 Rimpau Ave 101. A first alarm was dispatched, but first-due Engine 1 and Medic Squad 1 were on an EMS call.
As units responded, they were informed of smoke coming from the building, with multiple callers reporting different buildings on fire. Engine 4 observed smoke en route and upgraded the incident to a working fire.
Arrival and size-up
At 07:30, Battalion Chief 1 arrived on the scene with Engine 2 and Truck 2 to find smoke and fire showing from the roof of a one-story retail strip mall.
Battalion Chief 1 stated, “On scene of a one-story retail strip, we have heavy smoke showing from the alpha side windows and we do have fire through the roof upgrade this to a second alarm, contact Battalion 2 for City coverage and contact Perris for coverage for stations 1, 2 and 3.”
Engine 2’s officer completed a 360-degree size-up of the building while the crew secured a water supply, stretched a 200-foot, 1 ¾ inch attack line with a 15/16-inch tip, and set up for forcible entry.
Due to two vehicles parked in front of the involved suite and the door being unlocked, the Engine 2 firefighters suspected there were possible victims inside.
While extending the attack line, an Engine 2 firefighter observed a small flame emitting from a can light on the A/B corner of the unsupported overhang but did not relay the finding due to being preoccupied with the potential victims inside.
Fireground operations
Engine 2 firefighters advanced the hoseline, encountering moderate smoke at waist level. A short burst from the nozzle displaced ceiling tiles, revealing no fire in the A/B attic corner. Advancing 15 feet, they found and extinguished a small fire in the attic near the B/C corner.
The Truck 2 officer instructed the crew to prepare for vertical ventilation to prevent fire extension to the attached suite. Truck 2 firefighters set up equipment and positioned the aerial ladder over the exposure suite while the officer performed a 360-degree size-up.
Collapse and mayday
Four minutes after the first firefighters arrived, a 52-foot overhang on the alpha side collapsed, forcing firefighters to move quickly to avoid the falling debris. The Engine 2 officer transmitted a mayday, reporting the collapse and two trapped firefighters inside with their egress blocked by burning debris.
The two firefighters inside were not injured during the collapse and fought the fire with their hoseline, which was still operational. The firefighters successfully knocked down the fire on the interior and utilized hand tools to create an opening to the exterior.
There were no firefighter injuries.
Lessons learned
The department report listed lessons learned from this close call:
- Exercise extreme caution and be aware of hazards when working under unsupported overhangs.
- Ensure all personnel are familiar with the emergency notification system.
- The Initial Rapid Intervention Crew (IRIC) must be fully aware of their assignment and continuously assess the incident for potential hazards.
- Firefighters must understand building behavior under fire conditions and the risk of structural collapse.
- Recognize the dangers of unsupported overhangs.
- Personnel acted quickly and decisively in tough conditions.
- Mayday and fireground survival training were key to the swift and successful rescue of the trapped firefighters.
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