A fire broke out Friday night at a vacant hotel in Santa Ana, the same hotel that has been burned in two other fires in as many years, firefighters said. The three-alarm fire happened at the Saddleback Inn at 1655 East First Street at 10:35 p.m, according to NBC. Continue reading
Category Archives: Fires
Santa Ana BERT Survival and Training class set for March 12
Santa Ana Police & Fire present a BERT (Business Emergency Response Training) Survival and Training class on Tuesday March 12, 2013 from 9:30 am to 10:45 am.
Contact: Team Leader, Orange County Chapter of BERT International, Inc., info@bertinc.org, 714-972-0200
Where: Centennial Park Joint Police Training Facility, at 3000 W. Edinger, in Santa Ana. Continue reading
Orange County Fire Authority’s 7th Annual Open House set for 10/13
NEWS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2012
Subject: Firefighters Show Their Skills at Orange County Fire Authority’s 7th Annual Open House – October 13
Contact: Lynnette Round, Supervisor (714) 290-7772 or lynnetteround@ocfa.org
Captain Marc Stone (714) 319-4657 or marcstone@ocfa.org
Irvine, CA – It is three days away, the most hands-on firefighting experience here in Orange County. Bring your family and friends to see live fire demonstrations, put out make-believe fires, take a ride in a fire engine, try on firefighter turnouts, and discover life and fire safety in a fun-filled environment. Continue reading
As time changes, O.C. Health Care Agency asks if we’re ready for disasters
For Immediate Release: March 9, 2012
Contact: Deanne Thompson, 714-834-2178, dthompson@ochca.com
TIME CHANGE IS A REMINDER TO PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES
(Santa Ana) – When it’s time to change the clocks for daylight saving time this weekend, use it as a reminder to check your preparedness kit to make sure that your emergency stockpile is complete and the supplies have not expired. The American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign reminds people to refresh their emergency supplies before a disaster occurs. An easy way to remember to do this is to check emergency preparedness supplies and batteries in smoke detectors twice a year when you set your clocks. Continue reading
Santa Ana City Council to sign pact with the O.C. Fire Authority tonight
City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County
Contact: Captain Marc Stone, PIO at (714) 319-4657, Sergeant Jose Gonzalez, City of Santa Ana PIO at (714) 822-4415
Advisory: Historic Contract Signing Event Commemorating the Partnership between the City of Santa Ana and the Orange County Fire Authority for Fire
Subject: Historic Contract Signing Event Commemorating the Partnership between the City of Santa Ana and the Orange County Fire Authority for Fire and Emergency Medical Services
Who: Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Board Chair Mark Tettemer will sign the contract and officially merge the Santa Ana Fire Department and OCFA. Plans and training are now underway for the 192 firefighters and 12 civilian personnel that are transitioning. Continue reading
Santa Ana could save over $10,500,000 annually with switch to O.C. Fire
The City of Santa Ana could save over ten million dollars a year by signing on with the Orange County Fire Authority, according to a proposal submitted to our city manager by OCFA Fire Chief Keith Richter.
According to the proposal, “OCFA will be offering a Division Chief position to the current Santa Ana Fire Chief, who will be instrumental in the transition process for the City. The Division Chief provides a level of local control for the City Council and staff by participation on relevant public safety committees, participation at city staff meetings and attendance at city council meetings. The option also includes the transition of 192 sworn personnel and 141 non-sworn personnel*.” Continue reading
Check out what might be Santa Ana’s new fire department, this Saturday
The City of Santa Ana is considering outsourcing their fire department to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), to help reduce our budget deficit – which may be over thirty million dollars.
As luck would have it, the OCFA is hosting their annual Open House on Saturday, October 8, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Here is your chance to see what the OCFA has to offer to Santa Ana. Continue reading
Free movie night and campfire at Santiago Park’s Nature Reserve on 8/12
Santa Ana Park Naturalist Program Presents: Friday Night Fires At Santiago Park Nature Reserve
Presenting: Movie Night, Movie: TBD
Gather around the campfire for a FREE Summer night family event. Optional Supplies: hot dogs, marshmallows, skewers, blankets, warm clothing, and hot beverages. Continue reading
Irvine man convicted after burning church over masturbation disagreement
TONY RACKAUCKAS, ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: August 9, 2011
Susan Kang Schroeder, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Chief of Staff Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486
Case # 09HF1875: MAN CONVICTED OF HATE CRIME ARSON FOR SETTING CHURCH PROPERTY ON FIRE AFTER BECOMING DISGRUNTLED WITH ITS TEACHINGS AGAINST MASTURBATION
SANTA ANA – A man has been convicted of committing hate crime arson by lighting three fires at an Irvine church and attempting to set the church on fire because he was disgruntled with the church’s teachings regarding masturbation. Izad Chavoshan, 32, Huntington Beach, pleaded guilty to the court to three felony counts of arson, one felony count of attempted arson, and a hate crime sentencing enhancement. The defendant has a prior strike conviction for criminal threats in 1998. Continue reading
Fundraiser today to help Santa Ana High School alum whose home burned down
Santa Ana High School grad Brenda Coronado and her family lost their home to a fire on July 22. Click here to read about that in the O.C. Register. Coronado and her three kids lost everything. They are having a fundraiser today and are asking for donations of clothes in particular.
Here are the details, from Facebook: Continue reading
The SAPD and Santa Ana Fire Department are looking for illegal fireworks
Santa Ana Police Department
The 4th of July weekend will be upon us soon. Both the Santa Ana Police and Fire Departments are again strongly urging the public to refrain from the use of illegal fireworks.
Violators to the City’s Municipal Code on fireworks may receive a citation for possessing illegal fireworks, or even misusing or tampering with legal ones.
Police Officers, Firefighters, and volunteers will be working together to look out for illegal fireworks over the July 4th weekend. The patrols will focus on high-activity illegal fireworks areas as well as education.
Santa Ana legal firework sales will take place over the course of the weekend.
To report illegal fireworks please call 714-834-4211.
SANTA ANA FIREWORKS REGULATIONS
SAMC Chapter 14
SECTION 14-51. “DANGEROUS FIREWORKS” DEFINED.
For purposes of this article “dangerous fireworks” shall mean “dangerous fireworks” as defined in the State Fireworks laws and the regulations of the State Fire Marshal adopted pursuant thereto, as they may from time to time be amended.
SECTION 14-52. “SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS” DEFINED.
For purposes of this article “safe and sane fireworks” shall mean “safe and sane fireworks” as defined in the State Fireworks Law and the regulations of the State Fire Marshal adopted pursuant thereto, as they may from time to time be amended.
SECTION 14-53. DANGEROUS FIREWORKS PROHIBITED.
No person, firm, or organization shall manufacture, store, display, sell, offer for sale, possess, discharge, explode, fire, or set off any dangerous fireworks within the City of Santa Ana.
SECTION 14-54. DISCHARGING SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS.
No person shall discharge any safe and sane fireworks except on the days that sales are permitted each year as set forth in Section 14-55 below.
SECTION 14-55. SALE OF SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS.
No person shall display, sell, or engage in the business of selling safe and sane fireworks without first having obtained a permit to do so as hereinafter provided. No person shall sell any type of fireworks at any time except from 12:00 noon through 10:00 p.m. on July 1 and from 9:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. on July 2, 3 and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on July 4.
SECTION 14-56. PERMITS, ISSUANCE.
(a) Permits for the sale of safe and sane fireworks shall be issued only to bona fide non-profit
organizations as recognized by the State of California organized for charitable, fraternal, patriotic service or religious purposes with their principal and permanent meeting place within the City of Santa Ana, and at least fifty (50) percent of the members residing within the City limits. (b) Permits for the sale of safe and sane fireworks shall limit each sponsoring organization to a single location in any given year. (c) Such permit shall expire. on July 4th at 8:00 pm of the year it was issued
SECTION 14-59. SALE OF SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell safe and sane fireworks to anyone less than eighteen (18) years of age.
SECTION 14-77. SEIZURE OF FIREWORKS.
The Fire Chief shall seize, take, remove, or cause to be removed, at the expense of the owner, all stocks of fireworks offered or exposed for sale, or held in violation of these articles.
SECTION 14-78. PROHIBITED AREAS.
No persons shall sell, store, display, or discharge any fireworks of any type in any public oil or gasoline station, or on any premises where gasoline or other inflammable liquids are stored or dispensed. No person shall sell, store, display, or discharge any fireworks of any type in any permanent structure, nor within forty (40) feet of the same, except that any purchaser may discharge fireworks in conformance with these regulations in front of his own residence.
SECTION 14-79. DISCHARGE OF FIREWORKS.
No person shall throw, lob, toss, shoot or otherwise discharge any fireworks toward any other person or in any other manner which threatens the safety of persons or property.
The O.C. Great Park presents a “Community Safety Expo”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 21, 2011
CONTACT: JENN STARNES, 949-724-6574
The Great Park Presents “Community Safety Expo”
Event offers fun, free activities and safety tips for the whole family
IRVINE – Orange County’s finest public safety officers will be joined by Smokey Bear, Urban Search and Rescue dogs, and advanced fire and police vehicles at the Great Park on March 26 as part of the Park’s first Community Safety Expo. This free event will have safety demonstrations and activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to show you how to protect yourself, your family and your neighborhood.
“The Community Safety Expo offers the opportunity for Park visitors to learn from experts how to keep themselves and their families safe,” said Beth Krom, Chair of the Orange County Great Park Corporation. “We are proud to partner with the Orange County Fire Authority and the Irvine Police Department to provide this important information in an interactive and fun way.”
Kids are invited to bring their bikes to the Park to participate in a bicycle obstacle course and receive a free bike inspection. Parents can learn how to keep their kids safe from predators on the internet and see a live cooking fire safety demonstration. The event will conclude with demonstrations by the Irvine Police Department K-9 Unit and the Orange County Fire Authority Urban Search and Rescue Dog Team.
Kids can meet police officers and fire fighters, and see real emergency vehicles up close. Visitors will also be able to meet the K9 officers, and gourmet food trucks will be available throughout the event. A full schedule of events is available online at www.ocgp.org. The Orange County Great Park is located off the 5 or 405 freeways at Sand Canyon and Marine Way in Irvine.
About the Great Park
The Orange County Great Park, with its 1,347-acre master plan, is the focal point of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park is currently 27.5 acres and includes an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. A $70 million development plan to expand the Park to more than 200 acres is currently underway. The plan will build out a core section of the Park for the most immediate and wide-ranging public benefit, including the initial components of the sports park, a 114-acre agricultural area, and an art and culture exhibition space. For more information, please go to www.ocgp.org
###
Huge fire guts Santa Ana’s Saddleback Inn
The Saddleback Inn is burning to the ground tonight. The fire is incredible. It is being reported live on Channel 11 News, at this link.
The owner of the Saddleback Inn issued eviction notices to his residents in July of last year, as we reported here.
The City of Santa Ana encouraged the owner of the Saddleback Inn to convert his hotel to apartments, as he had a lot of long-term tenants there. For safety reasons, the City planning agency wanted him to improve the property, or convert it. He chose to evict everyone instead.
I don’t know what caused this fire, but if the buildings were empty it is not hard to believe that a transient may have set a fire, to stay warm. This happens a lot with empty buildings.
The Santa Ana Fire Department will likely look into this to see if arson was involved. The owner will surely benefit from having the structures burn down. His insurance will pay for new buildings. The FBI might even have a look at this one, if the local public safety officials feel it is warranted.
The Saddleback Inn is located at 1655 E. 1st St., not far from the Santa Ana Zoo and the Elks Lodge.
UPDATE: Firefighters brought the blaze under control within an hour, using water cannons to douse the flames from above, according to the O.C. Register, which also reported that the flames were largely confined to the third floor and attic of the building.
About 60 firefighters from the Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Garden Grove fire departments, as well as the Orange County Fire Authority, helped put out the fire.