Pink Bat Maxine
11-10-2008, 11:16 AM
Motel on fire, Marines to the rescue
Published: Nov. 9, 2008 at 7:36 PM
LAKE FOREST, Calif., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Marines sprang into action Sunday, waking sleeping guests -- carrying one elderly man to safety -- after fire broke out in a Southern California motel.
The eight Marines -- who were staying at the three-story Americas Best Value Inn in Lake Forest while on leave ahead of Monday's anniversary of the military branch's creation -- pounded on doors and shouted to alert other guests to the danger, after spotting flames and smoke about 8 a.m., KTLA-TV in Los Angeles reported.
It took about 100 firefighters several hours to extinguish the six-alarm fire. Fire officials said much of the complex was damaged and sections likely were a total loss, the station said.
No injuries were reported, although one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.
Pfc. Thomas O'Brien said he first saw the fire burning at the back of a second-floor vending machine. The cause of the blaze had not been determined.
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Marines credited with rescues in Calif. motel fire
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAKE FOREST, Calif. -- Off-duty Marines are being credited with saving lives after spotting flames and smoke at a California motel and rousing sleeping guests.
Orange County fire chief Kris Concepcion says the fire broke out Sunday morning at an Americas Best Value Inn in Lake Forest.
The chief says six Marines on leave from Camp Pendleton who were staying at the motel raced door to door to warn guests. They even carried one elderly man to safety.
No one was killed or seriously injured, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Marines say they were just doing what they had been trained to do.
Semper Fi, fellas.
Published: Nov. 9, 2008 at 7:36 PM
LAKE FOREST, Calif., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Marines sprang into action Sunday, waking sleeping guests -- carrying one elderly man to safety -- after fire broke out in a Southern California motel.
The eight Marines -- who were staying at the three-story Americas Best Value Inn in Lake Forest while on leave ahead of Monday's anniversary of the military branch's creation -- pounded on doors and shouted to alert other guests to the danger, after spotting flames and smoke about 8 a.m., KTLA-TV in Los Angeles reported.
It took about 100 firefighters several hours to extinguish the six-alarm fire. Fire officials said much of the complex was damaged and sections likely were a total loss, the station said.
No injuries were reported, although one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.
Pfc. Thomas O'Brien said he first saw the fire burning at the back of a second-floor vending machine. The cause of the blaze had not been determined.
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Marines credited with rescues in Calif. motel fire
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAKE FOREST, Calif. -- Off-duty Marines are being credited with saving lives after spotting flames and smoke at a California motel and rousing sleeping guests.
Orange County fire chief Kris Concepcion says the fire broke out Sunday morning at an Americas Best Value Inn in Lake Forest.
The chief says six Marines on leave from Camp Pendleton who were staying at the motel raced door to door to warn guests. They even carried one elderly man to safety.
No one was killed or seriously injured, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Marines say they were just doing what they had been trained to do.
Semper Fi, fellas.