OCFA firefighters responded to a fire at a boarded up vacant building just before 9 am in Santa Ana today at 1904 W. 1st St., according to the OCFA Twitter account.
The firefighters had to force their way in the building, through heavy black smoke.
Investigators were at the scene. No injuries were reported.
The fire happened at what used to be Antojitos Don Chepe, a restaurant.
Arrestee: Isaiah Emmanuel Castillo (33)
A person of interest in an arson case dating back to 12/01/2019 was identified as Isaiah Castillo and is in custody, charged with 4 counts of arson.
ORIGINAL MESSAGE –
Description: Male, Hispanic, 5’6”, medium build, eyeglasses, dark hooded sweatshirt and pants, dark/light colored shoes, light colored backpack.
On 12/01/2019 at 5:30 AM, an unknown suspect intentionally lit a door on fire at a hotel located in the 100 block of East MacArthur Blvd. This unidentified suspect is a person of interest in this arson investigation.
Video Surveillance:
Anyone with information identifying the suspect in this case is asked to contact Detective A. Castro at (714) 245-8345 or acastro@santa-ana.org.
A man who had doused himself and his car with gasoline on Standard Ave., in Santa Ana, on Wednesday was hosed down by OCFA firefighters during a tense standoff that was caught on video, according to KTLA.
The SAPD got a call from the man’s mother after he began to act suicidal. The situation then escalated when the man doused himself with gasoline and then got into his car, according to the SAPD.
Both the SAPD and the OCFA responded to the scene. While a hostage negotiator spoke with the man it became apparent that he had a lighter in his hand.
During the incident the police officers felt that attempts to deescalate the situation were not working. Then one of the firefighters approached the man and began to hose him down with water.
The man was eventually taken safely from the car and he was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation.
The police did not reveal the man’s name.
The Orange County Crisis Prevention Hotline provides toll-free, 24-hour, immediate, confidential, culturally and linguistically appropriate, over-the-phone suicide prevention services to anyone, who is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Call (877) 7-CRISIS or (877) 727-4747.
On 12/01/2019 at 5:30 AM, an unknown suspect intentionally lit a door on fire at a hotel located in the 100 block of East MacArthur Blvd. This unidentified suspect is a person of interest in this arson investigation.
Description: Male, Hispanic, 5’6”, medium build, eyeglasses, dark hooded sweatshirt and pants, dark/light colored shoes, light colored backpack.
Anyone with information identifying the suspect in this case is asked to contact Detective A. Castro at (714) 245-8345 or acastro@santa-ana.org.
A suspicious fire at the MetroPro Road Services tow yard at 2550 S. Garnsey Avenue on Friday night, Nov. 29, burned about 13 cars, according to the O.C. Register.
OCFA firefighters were got the call just after 11:30 p.m. Whey they arrived they found that several vehicles were on fire. They were able to put out the fire and no injuries were reported.
The SAPD uses this tow yard for their towing services. The tow yard also offers towing services to other parties.
OCFA investigators believe the fire may have been an act of arson. This has not yet confirmed. SAPD police investigators will be working with OCFA investigators to determine if any criminal actions were involved.
A fire broke out at a granny flat this afternoon in Santa Ana at the 500 block of S. Garnsey St., according to the OCFA. The fire occurred just south of Santa Ana High School.
It took crews just 23 minutes to knock down the fire in Santa Ana after dispatched at 2:44 pm. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is unknown.
The Red Cross was called to assist 3 displaced adults after the fire extended into the home.
We reported a major fire yesterday via our Facebook page and now we know what happened – it was possibly an illegal drug lab that caught fire.
The OCFA reported that their Emergency Communications Center received a report of a Fire around the 2000 block of S. Main Street at 12:09. This happened just south of Superior Grocers, at W. St. Andrew Place.
The OCFA firefighters were able to knock-down the fire with around 35 firefighters. No injuries were reported.
The firefighters encountered what appeared to be a drug lab while trying to douse the building, according to the O.C. Register.
The drug lab was described as an elaborate honey oil operation, according to KTLA.
Hash oil, also known as honey oil or cannabis oil, is an oleoresin obtained by the extraction of cannabis or hashish. It is a concentrated form of cannabis extracts containing many of its resins and terpenes – in particular, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids. There are various extraction methods, most involving a solvent, such as butane or ethanol. Hash oil is usually consumed by smoking, vaporizing or eating. Hash oil may be sold in cartridges used with pen vaporizers. Preparations of hash oil may be solid or colloidal depending on both production method and temperature and are usually identified by their appearance or characteristics. Color most commonly ranges from transparent golden or light brown, to tan or black. Cannabis retailers in California have reported about 40% of their sales are from cannabis oils, according to Wikipedia.
Proactive Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Totals as of JUNE 28, 2019, from the SAPD:
Everyone is strongly encouraged to only use safe and sane fireworks. Santa Ana PD will continue to enforce the law and issue citations for illegal fireworks.
You can anonymously report possession/use of illegal fireworks by calling(714) 245-8771
Do you remember the Marie Callender’s restaurant that used to be located at 1821 N. Grand Ave., in Santa Ana? It has been closed for some time but things took a turn for the worse early on Saturday morning when a fire broke out at the abandoned building.
OCFA Firefighters responded to the scene at 1:29 a.m., according to the OCFA Twitter page.
The firefighters were able to put out the fire in about 40 minutes. No injuries to any civilians or firefighters were reported.
The fire caused $80,000 in damages to the building and $60,000 to the contents, according to the OCFA.
The SAPD questioned a few people who were near the building at the time of the fire, but no one was arrested, according to the O.C. Register.
A couple of people were questioned near the building early Saturday morning, but no arrests were made, said Santa Ana Police Sgt. Andy Alvarez.
Marie Callender’s filed for bankruptcy back in 2011, and ended up closing over 60 locations. Locally there are Marie Callender’s in Anaheim, Buena Park, Orange, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Westminster. In total there are 49 locations still open, according to their website. Their first restaurant opened up in Orange, in 1964.
Update: Suspect Ruben Valdez Garcia (44) In Custody
On 4-19-2019 at approximately 1:45pm a community member contacted SAPD Communication advising, the wanted arson suspect they saw posted on social media was walking southbound in the 700 block of South Harbor Blvd. Responding officers located suspect Garcia in the 1100 block of South Harbor Blvd where he was taken into custody without incident. Garcia was booked into SAPD Jail for the charge of Arson.
Original Post: Suspect: Ruben Valadez Garcia (44) Santa Ana: Male Hispanic, 5-6, 190, Black Hair and Brown Eyes
On 4-18-19 at 8:47am, Officers were dispatched to assist the Orange County Fire Authority with a fire located at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park, 4800 Block of West First Street. After the fire was extinguished by the OCFA, their Arson Investigators responded and took over the investigation. Arson Investigators worked with detectives from SAPD and determined the fire was an arson. The suspect was identified as Ruben Valdez Garcia (44). Video from the complex shows Garcia walking up to an inhabited mobile home where he lit two large bushes on fire that were located along the west side of the mobile home. The fire spread causing the front of the home to catch fire. At the time of the fire, there were two residents inside who were able to escape unharmed.
Video Surveillance: https://youtu.be/sT5RkL9gRvg
Suspect Garcia resides at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park; however, has not returned to his residence since the fire and remains at large. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of suspect Garcia is asked to SAPD Detective A. Castro at 714-245-8375, acastro@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
Suspect: Ruben Valadez Garcia (44) Santa Ana: Male Hispanic, 5-6, 190, Black Hair and Brown Eyes
On 4-18-19 at 8:47am, SAPD police officers were dispatched to assist the Orange County Fire Authority with a fire located at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park, 4800 Block of West First Street. After the fire was extinguished by the OCFA, their Arson Investigators responded and took over the investigation. Arson Investigators worked with detectives from SAPD and determined the fire was an arson.
The suspect was identified as Ruben Valdez Garcia (44), by the SAPD. Video from the complex shows Garcia walking up to an inhabited mobile home where he lit two large bushes on fire that were located along the west side of the mobile home. The fire spread causing the front of the home to catch fire. At the time of the fire, there were two residents inside who were able to escape unharmed.
Suspect Garcia resides at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park; however, has not returned to his residence since the fire and remains at large.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of suspect Garcia is asked to SAPD Detective A. Castro at 714-245-8375, acastro@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
OCFA firefighters in Santa Ana came to the rescue of five cats trapped inside a burning home on Monday afternoon, according to ABC News.
A home located at the 300 block of East Virginia Street caught fire and responding firefighters quickly doused the flames as they searched for any residents inside the building. What they found was not people but rather five cats.
Sadly two other cats died as a result of the fire. The remaining cats were in rough shape. The firemen gave them oxygen via special air masks designed for cats. All OCFA firetrucks now carry these masks to help revive pets and save their lives.
OCFA firefighters believe the fire may have been started by the people living there as there appeared to be food left cooking on the stove.
The firefighters were able to contain the flames to the home’s kitchen and den. Damage is estimated at $220,000.
No humans were injured.
A fire broke out at a Santa Ana condominium this morning just before 10:45 a.m. when a suspected drug lab exploded, according to the SAPD’s Twitter account.
Witnesses heard an explosion before the fire began. Fortunately no one was injured.
A suspicious car was pointed out to the first-responders by witnesses. SAPD police officers stopped the vehicle and searched it, about a block away from the condo. The officers found about five pounds of marijuana and items that are used to extract the drug’s oils in the vehicle, according to the O.C. Register.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested. The SAPD has not yet made his name available to the media.
Because of the explosion the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Bomb Squad was called to the scene to investigate.
A 13-year-old boy saved the day early this morning when he grabbed a garden hose and extinguished a fire at a home located at the 4100 block of W. 5th St., in Santa Ana, according to the OCFA.
The boy took action after a smoke alarm sounded. Firefighters showed up at the scene at 6:06 a.m. and the fire was completely out by 6:14 a.m. The firefighters commended the boy for his quick action. They also credited two housemates for getting the victims out of the burning house.
One adult male in his 40s suffered critical burns and ad adult female in her 40s suffered moderate burns. They were taken to the UCI Burn Center.
Five people were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross stepped in to help them to relocate.
Details were not available regarding the cause of the fire.
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: SAPD Detectives Arrest Suspect For Various Arson Related Charges
On Wednesday, January 9, 2019, Burglary detectives, working in collaboration with Orange County Fire Authority, arrested Danny Noriega, a 61-year-old Santa Ana resident, who was identified as a suspect during an arson-related investigation.
On Saturday, December 15, 2018, Santa Ana Police Officers and Orange County Fire Authority responded to the 2700 block of W. Maywood Avenue regarding a possible arson. A resident in the home reported he looked outside after hearing a loud noise. Upon doing so, he observed a small fire inside his property near his vehicle, which was parked in the driveway. He immediately extinguished the fire using his water hose and called the police.
The resident reviewed his home surveillance system and observed his neighbor, identified as Danny Noriega, threw a lit object over the fence. The neighbor fled the scene on a bicycle. The object thrown by Noriega was examined by Orange County Fire Authority and found to be similar to a Molotov cocktail that contained an incendiary device.
Noriega was booked into the Santa Ana Jail on various arson-related charges. Burglary detectives are continuing their investigation with the Orange County Fire Authority.