Motel Evacuated as Vegetation Fire Briefly Threatens Structure

Residents of a motel were evacuated as Redlands firefighters, with some help from City mechanics, fought a vegetation fire that briefly threatened the structure last Wednesday afternoon. High winds and several wind-related calls kept firefighters busy even before the report of the vegetation fire just south of Interstate 10, between Tennessee and New York streets shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 30. Due to the winds the department staffed an additional engine, which proved crucial in responding quickly to the blaze. The City’s Fleet Services Manager Aaron Jenkins and mechanic Nick Lozano were returning a recently repaired engine to the Fire Department when they noticed the smoke nearby. Driving the engine directly to fire, Jenkins and Lozano made contact with Fire Chief Jeff Frazier and Capt. Steve Fea, who were first on scene in a command vehicle. The fleet services employees positioned the engine and activated the pump, allowing Chief Frazier and Capt. Fea to begin fighting the blaze until fully staffed equipment arrived a few minutes later. “Our Fleet Services Division personnel perform in an exemplary manner on a daily basis keeping the Redlands Fire Department rolling,” said Frazier. “On this day they performed above and beyond the call of duty.” Redlands Police assisted with traffic control and evacuating motel guests from the Motel 6 as flames briefly threatened the structure. No injuries were reported and firefighters had the blaze contained within 15 minutes. No structures were damaged. Firefighters expected to be on scene for another hour with mop up operations.