EL CENTRO - Large columns of smoke were seen as county firefighters battled a house fire near South La Brucherie and Jasper roads Tuesday.
No injuries were reported during the afternoon fire, but most of the structure affected was consumed by around 2 p.m. By then time firefighters had stopped the fire and were preparing to mop up the area.
Firefighters from county fire stations Nos. 1, 2 and 3 were able to stop the fire from spreading to a house standing just feet away.
“When we arrived on scene, this house right here was well-engulfed,” Imperial County Fire Chief Tony Rouhotas said while pointing to the burned structure. He agreed damage was a complete loss.
“A man and his wife and two children lived in the house,” Rouhotas said. “They were not home when the fire occurred.”
Animal control officers were also seen during the fire. They had to be called during the incident because several dogs lived on the premises.
“I just came as quick as possible,” said Martha Hernandez, a resident whose sister-in-law lived in the burned house.
Hernandez noted no dogs were injured and theorized that the fire could have been the result of some trash that was being burned nearby.
Rouhotas said a full investigation is ongoing and that the trash being burned would be taken into consideration.
— Alejandro Dávila, adavila@ivpressonline.com
Male subject allegedly steals BB gun from Brawley Wal-Mart
BRAWLEY - Brawley police officers responded to a burglary at the Wal-Mart here regarding a male subject believed to be armed with a knife, according to police logs.
The subject had allegedly stolen a BB gun and BB ammunition from the store.
The subject was believed to be armed because he had opened several packages in the bathroom with what appeared to be a knife, read the logs.
The subject was detained.
Male subject allegedly tries to start fire
Brawley police officers responded to reports of a subject possibly trying to start a fire here Sunday, according to police logs.
The reporting party described the alleged fire starter as a Hispanic male in his late teens, with long hair, a blue jacket and pants and who was riding a small black bike.
The reporting party stated the subject had set a piece of newspaper on fire and had thrown it under the front door of the Thrift Store next to El Rincon.
Responding officers found no signs of arson or unlawful fire to the buildings and cleared the area.
Power tools stolen from vacant property
A vacant property located on West C Street in Brawley that was being renovated was broken into Sunday, according to police logs.
A window in the back patio was forced open, according to the logs.
The items believed to be stolen included a skill saw, chop saw, two drills, various hand tools, cordless tools, spool of wire, tile saw and other tile tools, according to the log.
The price of the stolen items is estimated to be more than $3,000.
— Karina Lopez, klopez@ivpressonline.com
Woman found in possession of drugs during prison visit
CALIPATRIA - Calipatria State Prison correctional officers discovered a woman attempting to smuggle drugs into the prison during visiting hours Sunday, according to a press release from the prison.
Delana Sutton was found with three bindles of what was suspected to be marijuana in her mouth and an additional two bindles in her underwear.
Sutton gave officers the two bindles during an unclothed search following the discovery of the first three bindles, according to the release.
Waiting in Sutton’s car was her sister Crystal, who was also found in possession of a substance suspected to be marijuana.
Both women were booked into the Imperial County jail on suspicion of possessing drugs within a state prison, according to the release.
— Celeste Alvarez, calvarez@ivpressonline.com
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