Two homes damaged in Redondo Beach fire

Dashcam footage of a two-house fire on Garnet Street west of Pacific Coast Highway. Image courtesy Patrick Fallon

Dashcam footage of Redondo Beach firefighters fighting a two-house fire on Garnet Street west of Pacific Coast Highway. Image courtesy Patrick Fallon

 

Two South Redondo houses were damaged in a fire that spread between the neighboring homes on Friday night.

Tessa Bodey was out with her dog on their evening walk around 4:50 p.m. when she saw a small plume of smoke rising from a home just west of Pacific Coast Highway on Garnet Street.

“The front door was open, and I asked the woman inside if something was cooking, if she was frying a turkey or something, because there was a lot of smoke,” Bodey said. “She ran back and said that a candle was left burning and that her house was on fire.”

Bodey called 911. The fire intensified, shattering windows in the home as Redondo Beach Firefighters arrived, Bodey said.

Patrick Fallon, a professional news photographer, was driving along Pacific Coast Highway when he saw the plume of smoke. He jumped out of his car and began knocking on doors.

“I went next door and started knocking; no response, so I went around the back and could see there was movement, an older woman on her iPad,” Fallon said.

Redondo Beach Firefighters respond to a two house fire on Garnet Street. Photo by Patrick Fallon

The woman was reluctant to leave her home because she wanted to find her cat. As Fallon watched the fire spread to her home, during a minute he said felt like an eternity, he and another bystander finally convinced the woman to leave without her cat.

Diane Williams, in a Facebook comment on Easy Reader, identified herself as the “older woman with the iPad. ” Thank you, Patrick, my hero! You are in my ❤️forever.”
In a second Facebook post, she wrote, “Thank you RBFD. I found my precious Quincy. As I sat on my couch with a flashlight, I called for her, within 5 minutes….she was cuddling me…
We are all safe. Thank you, Redondo neighbors for all your love and caring.”

According to RBFD Division Chief Robert Rappaport, the first home suffered heavy fire damage to 30 to 50 percent of the structure, along with heavy smoke damage throughout. Fire at the second home was contained quickly by the firefighters and sprinklers throughout the attic and second floor. They’re looking into a new fire sprinkler installation after this incident.

Though a candle is suspected of starting the fire, Rappaport said that the cause was undetermined, as of 8 p.m.  Friday evening. No civilians were injured.  A firefighter suffered a minor ankle injury. 

According to Rappaport, the Redondo Beach Firefighters Association’s Community Relief Fund is working to set up hotel rooms for the affected families.

 

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