Firefighters, Neighbors Thanked for Making a Big Save

Firefighters carry a piece of furniture back into the home after removing it to save belongings from fire and water damage. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

Firefighters were praised for going the extra mile and neighbors were thanked by a resident and his landlord tonight in what appeared to be truly a team effort in saving a Menifee home and much of its contents.

Five engine companies and 23 firefighters from the Riverside County Fire Department responded quickly and limited damage to a house in the 30000 block of Thornhill Drive in Menifee just before dusk today. Alerted by local residents to the fire in a house in which no one was home, fire crews arrived to find a neighbor with a garden hose doing what he could to battle the flames.

By the time Malcolm Mallory returned to his home from a family dinner, firefighters already were mopping up the damage, having contained the fire primarily to the attic. Although there appeared to be extensive fire and water damage, Mallory found much of his antique furniture, paintings and other belongings placed carefully on the front lawn to protect them.

"The fire department did an awesome job," said Mallory, 63, who lives in the house with his 89-year-old mother. "They saved so much stuff. I had antiques, paintings, and they saved all of it. The fire department here is outstanding."

Mallory said family members had taken him out for a belated Father's Day dinner and celebration of some who were graduating from school. He said they were gone for about an hour and returned to find their street blocked off by police.

"By the time we got here, it was pretty much over with," Mallory said. "We were looking down the street and asking what happened. Somebody said, 'That's your house on fire.' "

As Mallory and his mother waited for Red Cross to arrive and provide assistance with housing, firefighters already were carrying pieces of furniture back into the house.

According to Battalion Chief Jorge Rodriguez, removing one's valuables during a fire when possible is part of standard procedure, although many don't realize it.

"We always try to do recovery and protection," Rodriguez said. "Sometimes there's nothing we can do. Sometimes we cover things with a tarp to protect them from fire and water. This time, while crews were fighting the fire in one part of the house, others started removing items from another part of the house to protect their valuables."

Rodriguez said it appears the fire started with a window air conditioning unit on the side of the house.

Landlord Percy Powell said his family was notified by a neighbor of the fire and arrived from his home a few blocks away before the Mallorys got there.

"The lady across the street called my sister and she called us," said Powell, watching alongside his brother. "The neighbors here are always looking out for each other.

"The main thing is, everybody's OK. I'm thankful the folks weren't here when it started. The fire department did a fantastic job."

Menifee 24/7 was alerted to the fire by City Council member Matt Liesemeyer, who was on scene and took the photo below of firefighters on the roof knocking down the flames. Even then, he said, recovery of the family's valuables was taking place.

"The attic was fully engulfed," Liesemeyer wrote in an email. "Each fire station was represented on the scene. It was a great effort by the guys and I saw a random act of kindness when firemen started bringing out personal belongings to the front yard. An antique lamp, hutch, pictures and China were among the belongings the men were pulling out of the still burning house. I was very impressed."

Photo by Matt Liesemeyer

Landlord Percy Powell points to damage in the attic from the fire.