Landers fire destroys home, injures residents who tried to save pet tortoise

A house fire in Landers sent two people to the hospital for treatment for burns. 

On Friday (December 12) at around 9:15 a.m., crews from San Bernardino County Fire responded to a report of a house fire in the 2400 block of Belfield Boulevard in Landers. County Fire described the home’s location as behind Gubler Orchids. 

County Fire responded with four engines, and were assisted by Cal Fire and Morongo Basin Ambulance. They say that the house was beyond saving by the time they arrived. County Fire said that two residents of the home were injured. One of the residents re-entered the home in an attempt to save a pet tortoise, and was seriously burned. The tortoise did not survive the fire.

Both residents of the home were taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center for treatment for burns. No fire fighters were injured in the blaze. The house was considered to be at total loss.

San Bernardino County Fire representatives advise that you should never re-enter a structure that is on fire, even to save a pet.