Local firefighters were kept busy Saturday with fires that destroyed a Landers Home and a Joshua Tree RV. County Fire Battalion Chief Mike McClintock said Early Saturday morning (4/22) at 1:15 a.m. Fire crews were dispatched to a reported structure fire around Jesse Rd and Highway 247, Landers. 911 calls said an abandoned home was on fire in the area, CALFIRE also sent a response. Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and fire conditions from an abandoned single-family, single-story home. They initiated a defensive fire attack, working to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent vegetation and nearby vehicles. Strong erratic winds and downed power lines complicated firefighting efforts. Despite the challenges, firefighters were successful in keeping the fire from spreading to multiple nearby RV’s and adjacent vegetation. The fire was knocked down in about 15 minutes and the home was a total loss. A passenger vehicle was also destroyed by the fire. An arson investigator was summoned, and the fire remains under investigation.
Saturday night (4/23) at 10:36 p.m. County fire crews were dispatched to a reported RV on fire in the 1700 block of Mountain Shadow Road, Joshua Tree. they arrived on-scene to find heavy smoke and fire from an RV with an immediate exposure to a detached garage & single family home. Firefighters initiated a fire attack, prioritizing keeping the fire from spreading to the adjacent structures. Venting propane tanks & windy conditions challenged firefighters. Despite these challenges, firefighters were successful in keeping the fire from spreading past the RV. The garage received heat andfire damage to the exterior, but the fire didn’t spread to the interior. Thankfully those sleeping in the RV smelled the smoke and heard smoke detectors and immediately exited the RV. The RV unfortunately was a total loss. The fire’s appears to have started near the RV’s refrigerator & was having issues prior to the fire.
