San Bernardino County Firefighters Rescue Child and Dog from Burning Home

A young girl with access and functional needs was rescued from a burning home Monday, Feb. 3rd, after San Bernardino County Firefighters executed a swift and strategic response to a structure fire on the 1300 block of N. Valencia Avenue in San Bernardino.

Fire crews arrived at the scene within six minutes of the 11:15 a.m. emergency call, finding a single-story residence engulfed in heavy smoke and flames. Shortly after arrival, distraught residents informed firefighters that their daughter was still trapped inside.

Faced with the life-threatening urgency, crews pivoted from fire suppression to search-and-rescue operations. Firefighters entered the home, locating the child in a bedroom and passing her safely through a window to awaiting personnel outside.

She was quickly transported by firefighter-paramedics to a local hospital, where she was listed in serious but stable condition. Firefighters also managed to rescue the family’s dog from the home.

“The effectiveness of our response was a direct result of the increased staffing levels in San Bernardino,” the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District stated in a release. “Having four personnel on all trucks and an additional medic squad allowed for a rapid and coordinated rescue effort.”

A total of 30 personnel, including seven engines, one truck company, one medic squad, and three chief officers, were deployed to the scene.

Fire officials emphasized the critical role of closed bedroom doors in fire safety, noting that the door in the child’s room helped shield her from flames and smoke, allowing firefighters to reach her in time.

“This incident highlights the importance of keeping bedroom doors closed when sleeping,” fire officials stated. “The closed door prevented significant burns or airway injuries and gave crews the time needed to execute a successful rescue.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.