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Fire destroys two homes in Bishop |
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Tuesday, 08 December 2009 |
 Firefighters battle a fierce blaze in northwest Bishop Saturday night at 2326 Navajo Circle (l) and 2338 Navajo Circle. Both homes caught fire after ashes from a fireplace were placed in a trash can next to a fence between the two properties. The structures were considered total losses with an estimated $1 million in damages. Photos by Mike Bodine By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
12-8-2009 Two family dwellings in Bishop were considered total losses after a fire, fueled by 50 mph winds, raged through the adjacent homes Saturday night.
Fireplace ashes discarded before they were completely out are being blamed for the blaze that caused $1 million in damages.
The 911 call was dispatched to Bishop Fire Department just before 6 p.m. Saturday to 2338 and 2326 Navajo Circle. Bishop Fire Chief Ray Seguine said when he arrived on scene he actually went to the other side of the block on Arapahoe Drive to establish a ladder team after he saw embers and ashes flying in that direction.
“My concern was what was going to happen downwind,” Seguine said.
He said there were sustained winds that night of 35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph. The wind was so intense, the water used to fight the blaze was raining down on Arapahoe Drive, creating huge sheets of ice along the streets and sidewalks.
Big Pine Fire Department and CalFire were both called out by BFD to assist in fighting the blaze and Inyo County sheriff’s deputies, investigators and Bishop Police officers were on scene to control traffic and the crowd – “so we can do our job,” Seguine said.
The homes were on meters and not propane tanks so gas was not an issue, and neither was a chimney, but old ashes from a fireplace seemed to be the issue.
The initial 911 caller said at the scene he and his wife first saw smoke coming from the homes, and upon further inspection discovered the small fence between the two structures was ablaze.
Both residents were out for the evening, the neighbor said. Seguine confirmed as much, adding that with the strong winds it didn’t take much for the embers to make it into the attic, “and then it goes up pretty quick.”
Seguine explained that the residents of 2338 had cleaned ashes out of there fireplace two days ago, placed them in a metal pail and left them outside. Unfortunately, the resident poured the ashes into the trash can next to the fence and then more trash was added on top.
These kinds of fires are not uncommon, Seguine said. He said BFD has responded to other brush and structure fires, even garbage trucks on fire, because ashes were disposed of before they were completely cold.
Seguine said that ashes from a fireplace should be treated just like a campfire – lots of water and stirring until the ashes are cold and wet. Seguine said this is how fire departments determine “fire out” – when the ashes are cold to the touch.
And just like a camp fire, there is no set amount of time ashes should sit. “It all depends” Seguine said, meaning the cold and wet approach is the safest.
“I hate seeing this type of thing that was preventable,” Seguine said.
According to Seguine, this was actually considered a three-structure blaze as embers were later discovered on a residence on Arapahoe.
Seguine estimated the third structure sustained $200 worth of damage, while the two structures and their contents were estimated at a loss of $1 million.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 07 January 2010 )
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