Twentynine Palms fire fighters were busy with back-to-back fires Friday. According to Twentynine Palms Fire Captain Matt Helmkamp, fire fighters were called to a home in the 6100 block of Daisy Avenue at 5:35 p.m., where they found heavy black smoke and flames on the outside of the home, climbing up the eaves and into the attic. Twentynine Palms fire fighters, with assistance from the Combat Center, knocked down the fire in about 10 minutes; however, Helmkamp said, the home suffered significant damage and the female resident and her five children needed assistance from the Red Cross as the home is not habitable. Helmkamp estimated the damage at $25,000.
Helmkamp said that no sooner had the Twentynine Palms fire fighters gotten their gear cleaned up and hoses put back on their engines when they were called at 8:54 p.m. to another fire, this one in the 73100 block of Indian Trail. Fire fighters from Twentynine Palms, the Combat Center, and a water tender from Yucca Mesa found the home fully involved with flames upon arrival. The residents, an older couple, told fire fighters they heard popping noises from their television, and the electricity was fluctuating. Helmkamp said when the residents opened the door to another room, they found it was filled with smoke, at which time they evacuated the home and called 911. Helmkamp said the residents had quite a bit of property stored outside the home, and at least one vehicle and one boat were lost in the fire. The fire caused the roof to collapse; Helmkamp estimated damage to this home at $100,000. There were no injuries at either fire and the cause of both fires is under investigation.
