Quick action by one of the tenants of a structure on Mesa Street is being credited with limiting the damage caused by an electrical fire that broke out in a detached garage Saturday afternoon.
Shortly before 4:00p.m., units from the Susanville Fire Department responded to 510 N. Mesa Street for a report of a structure fire, arriving to find a detached garage with light smoke showing on the rear of the property.
“Susanville Police Department assisted in securing power at the power panel and began traffic control,” explains SFD Fire Captain Andrew Jarrett.
The crew of Engine 621 found the fire had been extinguished by the tenant and a friend with a garden hose. Firefighters started with salvage and overhaul while Chief 600 and the Incident Commander began the investigation.
“The cause of the fire was determined to be a short circuit at a light fixture in the closet of the detached garage. The short circuit occurred during maintenance on a GFI plug in the bathroom of the main house.”
“The quick reaction of the tenant and his friend, seeing the smoke, calling 9-1-1, and extinguishing the fire stopped the severity of damage and the possible loss of the structure.”
According to Jarrett there were no firefighter or civilian injuries. The Susanville Fire Department was supported by the Susanville Police Department, the City of Susanville Natural Gas Department, CalFire and Lassen Municipal Utility District.
