PRESS RELEASE

City of Porterville                                                                                          
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257

For more information contact:
Yuriko Velarde, Administrative Analyst
yvelarde@ci.porterville.ca.us

December 21, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZED FOR EMERGENCY INCIDENT RESPONSE

The Porterville City Council recognized the Porterville Fire Department at the December 20, 2022, Council Meeting, for an efficient and timely response to an emergency incident that took place on October 23, 2022. During the incident the Porterville Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire at 157 N. Murry Street in Porterville.  Upon the first engine’s arrival, fire crews found heavy fire showing from the second-floor of a two-story residence.  Crews also encountered an elderly female sitting on the first story roof outside of her second story bedroom on north side of the structure.

Fire crews were able to rescue the female off the roof utilizing a ladder, bringing the woman down the ladder to safety without physical injury. Patient care of the female was transferred to Imperial Ambulance personnel where she was transported to Sierra View Medical Center for evaluation and smoke inhalation. As crews were able to safely rescue the elderly female off the roof, other crews advanced a hose line inside the structure to the second floor to control the fire and conduct a search for an additional female occupants believed was still inside. 

In total, fourteen (14) Porterville Fire firefighters responded to the incident and were able to conduct the rescue and bring the fire under control in just under eighteen (18) minutes. The City of Porterville commends the quick and efficient rescue by the Porterville Fire Department and the corresponding public safety partners.