Calif. Ambulance Crew Reports House Fire

Feb. 29--SAN BERNARDINO -- Firefighters on Tuesday night were still trying to figure out what caused a structure fire that took the life of a 45-year-old man.

San Bernardino firefighters were dispatched to the 1100 block of North Tiajuana Street about 2:15 p.m. after an AMR ambulance crew reported the residential fire and an unidentified person trapped in the back.

When the first firefighters arrived, they saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the single-story residence.

"There were security bars around all the windows and doors of the home, but the front door was open," said San Bernardino fire Capt. Ben Alexander.

Within minutes, firefighters found the victim, who was not breathing, and removed him from the home.

Officials performed "advanced life support" on the front lawn of the residence before taking the man to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

"Despite all our efforts... he passed away at the hospital," Alexander said.

Officials said the man was not the owner of the home and may have been a guest.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

"There were no smoke detectors in the house at all," Alexander said. "It could have made a huge difference whether the occupant was able to get out or not."

The fire, which caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to the structure, was extinguished in about 20 minutes, firefighters said.

No other injuries were reported. Reach Lori via email or call her at 909-483-9378.

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