Accidental Blaze Damages Fontana Apartment

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San Bernardino County Fire investigators determined an iron accidentally knocked over sparked a fire that damaged one unit of an apartment building.  The fire in the 17100 block of Merrill Ave. in Fontana was reported just after 2:30 p.m. on November 7, 2011.  The first fire unit was on scene in 4 minutes and reported heavy smoke from an upstairs room of the apartment. 

Fire crews making entry into the building found two upstairs rooms ablaze but it took them just 7 minutes to knock the fire down.  The unit involved sustained heavy fire and smoke damage upstairs but only minor water damage downstairs.  Crews were able to keep the fire from damaging adjacent apartments.

On questioning a teenage boy, who was home alone at the time of the incident, investigators determined that he accidentally started the fire when he knocked over an iron into a pile of clothes in a closet.  The clothes caught fire before he could retrieve the iron and the fire quickly spread throughout the upstairs of the apartment. 

The fire caused approximately $50,000 damage to building and contents.  No civilians or firefighters were injured in the incident.  Eighteen county firefighters responded on 3 engines and 1 truck.



Author:San Bernardino County Fire Dept. Press Release