Lake Forest Teen Helps Extinguish House Fire

LAKE FOREST — A Lake Forest family discovered their home was on fire on Monday while on their way to the movies. The quick-thinking teenager assisted in putting out the blaze.

"As we were walking out the front door to the car I just smelled it," the homeowner, Tonya said from the scene.

The fire broke out just after 6:15 p.m. Monday on the 24000 block of Birdrock Drive.

"We came to the front of the house and the side of the house was engulfed in flames. I just screamed to my son, 'There's a fire!'" she said and ran inside to gather the family dog while her teenager called 9-1-1, then attempted to put the fire out with a hose.

"It's better than just standing and watching your house burn," the 17-year-old boy said. "I just had to do something."

OCFA station 19 in Lake Forest and Station 22 of Laguna Hills responded to the call and took over, putting the fire out in minutes.

Though OCFA Capt. Larry Kurtz stated the cause of the fire was unknown, the homeowners suggest the fire might have started in the trash cans on the side of the house.

"I cleaned up the side of the house today and inside the garage, and filled three trash cans with stuff from Christmas," the homeowner said. "We are just thankful no one is hurt. It could have been a lot worse and the firefighters did a really good job."

OCFA firefighters from Station 19 (Lake Forest) and Station 22 (Laguna Hills) responded to the call and no one was displaced or injured in fighting the blaze, according to Kurtz.

"I definitely want to be a firefighter," the teen said. "My instinct was to try to start to put it out as fast as possible. (After the firefighters got there,) I just watched, thinking that I hope I can join these guys one day."

Photo and on scene interview, Amy Spurgeon-Hoffman.