A near-disastrous fire at the Riverside home of a senior citizen illustrates the importance of having working smoke alarms in residences, a fire department spokesman said today.
The blaze broke out Sunday evening at 5412 Apricot Ave., near Central Avenue.
Fire crews rescued the lone homeowner, who apparently didn’t realize she was in danger, according to Battalion Chief Bob Bock.
He said seven engine crews, numbering two dozen firefighters, arrived at the burning residence within four minutes of receiving the call and were immediately met by neighbors who said the woman inside the single-story house was trapped.
“Firefighters made an aggressive attack and simultaneously searched the residence for any occupants,” Bock said. “One elderly female was located in a bedroom area and was quickly removed.”
The victim was transported to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, Bock said.
Crews contained the flames to a single room and a portion of the hallway.
The cause of the blaze remained under investigation, but according to Bock, smoke detectors in the residence were not functioning, illustrating the importance of regularly changing the devices’ batteries.
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