2 residents burned while protecting home had thought hot tub could protect them

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department today provided new details on the three people who were burned while protecting their homes Saturday in Big Tujunga Canyon.

Two of the people injured refused a mandatory evacuation order, said Sheriff’s Department spokesman Steve Whitmore. He said that the two didn’t realize how serious the threat of the fire was, and that they thought they could protect themselves by jumping into a Jacuzzi.

But when the 80-to-100-foot flames came barreling through their neighborhood, they were seriously burned, said Whitmore.

They managed to get themselves help, he said, and the county sent in a helicopter and airlifted them to a hospital.

“These are two individuals who underestimated this fire,” Whitmore said. “This fire is serious.”

Whitmore said he did not have the details on the third person reported injured in the fire.

He said that when an evacuation order is issued, it is important to “go, and go now. You don’t have several hours to wait anymore.”

The exact conditions of the victims was not clear.

-- Alexandra Zavis at Hansen Dam

Photos: Southland wildfires

 Map: The Station Fire

 Related articles:

- Schwarzenegger urges residents in path of flames to flee as fire roars in three directions
- Firefighters endure long night in La Crescenta battling flames
- Fires create another bad-air day in parts of Los Angeles
- La Crescenta homeowners defy evacuation order, band together to fight flames

Comments

[Henry I]

As they say, "Live and learn".

[Me]

IDIOTS.....It's a mandatory evacuation for something!

[Lin]

they did learn there lesson for sure! They are both ok, in the hospital and went into surgery this morning!

[Ruth]

It happened to me once in CA, bullhorned to leave your homes! Planes were flying over two sts. away dropping red fire retardent, and I had just pulled into my driveway! I did a lot of praying as I dumped important papers into the car, two cat carriers, our dogs harness and lead, then called my husband at work. I didn't leave, I did what the neighbors were doing shooting water on our redwood fences and roofs, the noise was horrendous! My husband drove over the mountain to us, the winds changed, and it was contained. It was only two blocks away, no homes burned, just fences, sheds, and the pools were all red! Kids were playing with matches in the dry Chapparel field behind the first st. That's CA.

[Jerry]

Is it too much to ask for a map of the fire area?

[KG]

People, please--your home is not worth risking your life for, nor is a rescue effort a worthwhile usage of already-strained resources and manpower. Our greatest priority must be to ensure that lives are spared and kept safe. OBEY mandatory evacuations!!

[Joe Jericho]

Wow. Do we not have enough fires in this area at this time of year and through October to put everyone on notice what can happen? I haven't been directly impacted by a fire since the Laguna Canyon fire of 1993, but when one comes, you don't mess around with it. These people are lucky to get out with their lives. I hope they don't have to go through this again, and if they do, I hope they make better decisions.

[Melaine Samson]

Darwinism and all that.

[SandyC]

I'm puzzled as to why they ever thought a hot tub could protect them. I mean, really?!!!

[streetrepair]

Wow - safe in a pot of water? doesn't water boil at only 99-100 degrees? and forest fires are usually in the range of 1000-1500 degrees?

[Samantha Brown]

What is the purpose of blogs? Why do people even post anything. Majority of the time those who post are not who they try be nor is the information correct. Why waste your time? Just like I am now...just wasted a whole minute of my life for nothing.

[MB]

Those residents knew how serious that fire was, that's why they were out protecting their homes. It is the Forest Service who doesn't have a clue. Anyone with a lick of sense knows that whole mountain range is a tinderbox this time of year and if you don't stomp on it with everything you have got as fast as you can, all is lost. I lived in Big Tujunga Canyon for years and am well aware of how ineptly that area has been managed. People understandably believe if they don't defend it themselves, no one will.

[MB]

Those residents were protecting their homes. It's the Forest Service that doesn't have a clue. Anyone with a lick of sense knows that area is a tinderbox this time of year and if you don't hit a fire with everything you've got as fast as you can, it is lost. I lived in Big Tujunga Canyon for years and am well aware of how ineptly it has been managed. It is understandable that people think if they don't protect it themselves it won't be protected.

[schlock]

"and the county sent in a helicopter and airlifted them to a hospital. "

I hope the county sending these morons a bill!!!!

[chaparral]

This is a chaparral ecosystem, fools. It NEEDS to burn to survive. Anyone mad about that? Call your developer's harlots, a.k.k your supervisor, and ask why they put you in harms way for a few election donation bucks.

[Rodney Peterson]

Amazing display of rampant stupidity. Too bad they didn't turn the water to COLD in their HOT tub! That would've saved these idiots...well, maybe. How do people this STUPID afford a nice home in a good neighborhood???

[Warren]

Yeah, I'm going to jump into the Jacuzzi. Bro, where's the beer?

[Lis]

Am so sorry people - given the events in Australia last year it's only people that count. And good grief - our fires have started already.

[Tim]

"doesn't water boil at only 99-100 degrees?"

No, streetrepair, it does not. :) Water boils at 212 degrees.

[LA in LA]

I really have a problem with people who don't evacuate. Firefighters cannot leave an area until it is clear, which means their lives are needlessly put at risk by these people. And firefighters that should be fighting the fire are instead rescuing people, at great personal risk, who should not have been there in the first place! Unfortunately, sometimes they lose their lives, or badly hurt, and it doesn't have to happen. These selfish, foolish people who choose to stay needlessly behind should be charged with murder or attempt murder. Then maybe they would think twice before causing the death and injuries of our fire-fighting heros, and the lifetime of suffering of their children and their families! No home or personal possession is worth this, ever!

[Nancy Low]

All these stupid people did was put the lives of firefighters, like our son in jeopardy. the fire department should have let them fry for their stupid and thoughtless act of staying behind to save a material possession. idiots.

[Ruby Begonia]

Actually water does boil at 100 degrees..........Celsius that is!!

"doesn't water boil at only 99-100 degrees?"

No, streetrepair, it does not. :) Water boils at 212 degrees.

[Mike]

Maybe they were thinking of that old trick Mr. Wizard would do where he would put a paper cup full of water over a flame and show how the paper cup wouldn't burn. What they forgot to remember from that segment is the water inside the cup did boil and as soon as the water was gone (boiled away), the cup did burn.

See, it is important to pay attention in physics class kids!!!

[Don]

Fools! Everybody knows the way to survive an LA fire is to throw on your scuba gear, grab a few spare air tanks and some weights and drop down to the bottom of your 9' swimming pool. If you're really well prepared with a little ingenuity you can even enjoy some medical marijuana down there while the flames pass.