At approximately 9:51 p.m. on September 17, Kern County firefighters responded to a house fire in the 1300 block of Ralston Street, with assistance from the Bakersfield Fire Department.

When firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke coming from the home. Neighbors told them that an elderly woman was still trapped inside. Locked gates and a locked front door blocked access to the house, so firefighters used specialized tools to quickly force their way inside. Crews entered the smoke-filled home and began searching for the woman while other firefighters worked to control the fire.

The woman was found unconscious inside the home and carried to the front yard. Firefighters immediately began lifesaving treatment and provided oxygen. She began breathing and regained consciousness before being transported by Hall Ambulance to Kern Medical for further care.

The rescue was completed approximately two minutes after the incident commander arrived and just eight minutes after the initial dispatch. With the resident safely removed from the home, crews continued working to extinguish the fire, which was located in a rear bedroom. Heavy smoke had spread throughout the house and attic. Firefighters extinguished the flames, searched the entire home and confirmed that no one else was inside.

Law enforcement assisted with traffic control, while utility crews were requested to secure the gas and electricity.

The quick and coordinated response—from the dispatchers who received the initial call to the firefighters working at the scene—resulted in the successful rescue and resuscitation of the trapped resident.

Protecting the safety and well-being of the public is why our firefighters continually train and prepare—to ensure they are always ready to answer the call.