ORANGE (CNS) - Three firefighters were injured by a downed power line and another suffered heat exhaustion while battling a four-alarm blaze in the city of Orange today that left two civilians with minor injuries and displaced as many as 20 residents.
The fire broke out about 12:40 p.m. at 211 S. Earlham St., according to Capt. Ryan O'Connor of the Orange Fire Department. A white pickup truck caught fire between two homes, and the flames spread to multiple residences “with the help of a pretty good wind,'' O'Connor said.
The two homes to the north and south of the truck were destroyed, along with a garage that had been converted to living quarters behind one of the houses, he said. Another residence sustained minor damage, according to the captain.
The firefighters who were shocked by the downed power lines were rushed to an area hospital, but their injuries were considered minor, O'Connor said. The firefighter who suffered heat exhaustion was also taken to a hospital as a precaution, O'Connor said.
“They didn't really want to go (to a hospital), but they weren't given a chance,'' O'Connor said.
The blaze displaced about 16 to 20 residents, who were being helped by the American Red Cross, he said.
It took about 80 firefighters an hour to extinguish the blaze, O'Connor said.
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