Photo by Patrick Ray
Incident report via KCFD
LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. | On January 8th, 2025, at 9:27 p.m. Kern County firefighters responded to multiple reports of a house on fire. While responding, the crew could see dark smoke against the night sky. As they arrived, they observed heavy fire engulfing approximately 50% of a double-wide mobile home. Concerned neighbors reported a victim inside, and a car was parked in the driveway.
Without delay, the first three arriving firefighters from Engine 72 went to work. They notified all incoming engines of a possible victim and that 72 was going into rescue mode. Fire was blowing out of the windows at the front corner of the house. These flames were temporarily knocked back with a hoseline and then firefighters quickly transitioned into an interior attack through the front door.
Smoke alarms sounded as a systematic search was started in the living room. Adrenaline surged as they peered intently through their masks, visibility reduced by the smoke. Intense heat and flame funneled at the firefighters as they made an aggressive attack down the hallway. Extinguishing fire as they went, they discovered the victim, lying unresponsive in the bathroom. They grabbed her in their arms and the Captain called out Victim! Victim! Victim! over the radio. The back door, though the closest exit, was bolted shut. In their determination to get her to safety, firefighters kicked out the door and moved her into the fresh air. Once in a safe place in the back yard, life-saving measures were initiated and signs of life returned.
The crew used their bodies to shield the victim from sparks as firefighters cut through the locked side gate. As the gate opened, the patient was immediately loaded into a waiting ambulance and was transported to an area hospital. With the priority of saving life complete, firefighters turned their attention to extinguishing the still raging fire. Crews remained on scene until full extinguishment was achieved.
The KCFD Investigation Unit was requested to the scene. The cause is currently under investigation and no other injuries have been reported.
The majority of the firefighters who responded to this fire were filling vacancies created by personnel assisting with the fires in Southern California. We remain committed to our duty to protect the residents of Kern County, even during this challenging time, as we support our neighbors in their time of need.
