El Cajon……At 8:42 p.m. Monday night, Heartland Fire & Rescue units from El Cajon, with assistance from Lakeside Fire Protection and Cal Fire, were dispatched to a reported residential structure fire in the 1300 block of El Rey Court in El Cajon. Initial reports were of a house with smoke and flames coming from the roof, possibly a chimney fire. Fire crews arrived within 5 minutes to report a single story, single family dwelling with a fully involved roof fire.
 
Neighbors alerted the occupants of the residence that their roof was on fire and the 2 residents were able to self evacuate shortly prior to fire department arrival. Firefighters initially tried to combat the fire from the interior, however, firefighters noticed a structural compromise to the roof and ceiling of the structure, and pulled crews out for firefighter safety. Firefighters switched to a defensive mode and fought the fire from the outside of the structure, protecting the adjacent structures and the vegetation from igniting. Firefighters were able to contain the fire within 1 hour. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries reported.   
 
The fire is currently under investigation. A total of 4 residents were displaced. The house is a total loss with damage to the structure and contents estimated at $400,000.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            CONTACT: Sonny Saghera
Date: 3/29/2016                                                               Public Information Officer
Time:  9:45 a.m.                                                                 (619) 667-1301 – office
                                                                                            (619) 490-9897 – cell

La Mesa……At 8:20 p.m. Friday night, Heartland Fire & Rescue units from La Mesa and El Cajon, with assistance from Cal Fire, were dispatched to a reported multi-family residential structure fire in the 8700 block of Fletcher Parkway, the Alterra Apartments. Initial reports were of a vehicle on fire in the parking garage on the first floor. Fire crews arrived within 4 minutes to report a vehicle on fire in the parking garage with sprinkler system activation.
 
Fire crews were able to control the fire in 10 minutes and turn off the sprinkler system to control the flow of water. There was no extension of the fire to the building and no residents were evacuated. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.
 
The sprinkler system and the quick response from firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to other vehicles and the building. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            CONTACT: Sonny Saghera
Date: 3/26/2016                                                               Public Information Officer
Time:  9:45 a.m.                                                                 (619) 667-1301 – office
                                                                                            (619) 490-9897 – cell

El Cajon……At 9:42 p.m. Tuesday night, Heartland Fire & Rescue units from El Cajon, with assistance from Santee Fire and Cal Fire, were dispatched to a reported commercial structure fire in the 1000 block of East Main Street. Initial reports were of a business, the JS Dollar Store, with smoke coming from the store. Fire crews arrived within 5 minutes to report a single story commercial building with light smoke coming from the eaves. Firefighters forced entry through the front door to gain access to the building.      

Firefighters also encountered that the building was heavily charged with smoke, which made it difficult to locate the source of the fire. Once located, the fire was quickly attacked and firefighters were able to contain it within 15 minutes. There was some minor smoke damage to an adjacent building. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries reported.   

The fire is currently under investigation. Damage to the structure and contents is estimated at $175,000.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            CONTACT: Sonny Saghera
Date: 3/23/2016                                                               Public Information Officer
Time:  12:00 p.m.                                                               (619) 667-1301 – office
                                                                                             (619) 490-9897 – cell