A fire destroyed an Oceanside residence Sunday afternoon after it started in the garage from an unattended cigarette and spread, with one firefighter receiving a knee injury while carrying a bedridden man from the home.
A resident of the home at 4455 La Quinta Pl. called the fire department at 3:37 p.m. Sunday to report that a fire had fully engulfed the residence with a bedridden man still inside, the Oceanside Fire Department said in a statement.
When firefighters arrived, they found the man in the back yard after neighbors had managed to get him out of the home, the statement said. They also found heavy smoke blowing out of an open garage door.
Firefighters used a ladder truck to attempt to cut a ventilation hole in the attic of the home.
“However, before they were able to do so, three large explosions caused by superheated oxygen tanks were felt emanating from inside the home,” the statement said,
“At this point, conditions inside the home were too untenable for survival and crews transitioned from an offensive to defensive fire attack.”
Fire crews outside the home directed hose streams into the home in order to prevent the fire from damaging nearby homes.
The previously trapped occupant did not appear to be injured, but was taken to a hospital for further evaluation, the fire department said.
At 4:52 p.m., the fire was extinguished and declared contained.
The Oceanside Fire Department is reminding residents to never walk away from a lit cigarette or other smoking materials.
City News Service contributed to this report.
