Firefighters from the SMFD, with the assistance of mutual aid agencies from neighboring communities, battled a structure fire on Monday evening that penetrated the roof of a residence at the corner of Warwick and Roanoke Roads – the second large San Marino fire in the past two weeks.
Structural damage is estimated between $600-$800,000 with addition property damaged said to be in the neighborhood of $50,000, according to Division Chief Mark Dondanville, who was on duty at the time and served as incident commander.
The blaze is still under investigation, but might have been sparked by an ember that emanated from the fireplace and landed on the home’s wood shake roof, Dondanville said.
Units from San Gabriel, Alhambra, Pasadena and South Pasadena also participated in battling the fire, which was called in at approximately 6:50 p.m. San Marino firefighters needed little direction to the scene.
“We saw smoke from the station,” said Dondanvile. “We arrived on scene to find a fully involved roof fire.”
Two San Marino units were first to arrive and quickly employed the main truck’s deck gun, which fires 500 gallons per minute in a technique knows as the wagon battery.
“That saved the house,” said Dondanville.
The fire was particularly difficult to fight due to exposures on three sides of the home, including a large tree. Video captured by a Los Angeles television news station shows a neighbor on the roof of his one-story garage armed with a garden hose to fend off possible burning material.
Asked to evaluate the joint response, Dondanville said “it couldn’t have been better.”
“The mutual aid from other cities, the cohesive manner in which we all worked together and the size of the fire, we were able to save pretty much all of the property,” Dondanville added. “Otherwise, it could have been a total loss.”
San Marino Fire Chief Mario Rueda arrived on scene as firefighters were knocking down the flames and delivered high marks for the response.
“There were a lot of simultaneous tasks that needed to be addressed and they did a great job,” said Rueda. “I am always surprised by the amount of fire that can be generated by a wood shake roof. A lot of effort went into preserving valuables after the fire was out. They did a great job, from beginning to end.”
The SMFD also saved a home at 2763 Gainsborough Drive on Tuesday, March 22 that investigators believe was sparked by faulty swimming pool equipment.
On average the San Marino Fire Department responds to approximately 50 fires each year.
