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Five Cities Fire responds to structure fire in Grover Beach

Posted at 10:41 AM, Dec 25, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-25 22:36:27-05

The Five Cities Fire Department responded to a structure fire in Grover Beach on Tuesday morning.

Neighbors say a Grover Beach man is lucky to be alive after they sprung into action when a fire broke out in his mobile home.

It happened on the 1300 block of Grand Avenue around 8:30 a.m.

“I was heading to the car when I smelled smoke. I noticed it was coming from my neighbors trailer so I yelled and called 9-1-1,” explained neighbor Janice Lamont.

Fire quickly engulfed the mobile home, but that didn’t stop quick thinking neighbors from rescuing the man inside.

“The neighbors just jump in – they don’t even think of their own safety – they just wanted to make sure Jesse (the man inside) was safe,” said neighbor Patricia Troncozo.

The heat from the fire was so intense, firefighters say it broke the windows of the mobile home next door.

Some neighbors say they watched nervously from across the street..

“I saw that the flames were headed towards my house so I took my dog and I left, and walked over and sat on a bench across the street. I waited for the fire trucks to arrive and I was afraid to see what I would find when I got back,” Lamont said.

While this mobile home is now a total loss, the bond between these neighbors is now even stronger.

“It’s sad to see someone lose their home and be so close to death. It’s alarming and yet  you are overcome with the love and kindness of your neighbors and that’s what Christmas is all about,” Lamont explained.

Firefighters are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. They say it’s likely the man was cooking when the fire broke out.