At 8:02 p.m. on April 5th, firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire with explosions at the 11000 block of Cypress Ave. in Fontana. Upon their arrival, they found a 450 square foot outbuilding fully engulfed in flames, and an elderly gentleman outside the building severely burned. Not knowing if anyone remained inside the building, firefighters quickly attacked the fire and conducted a search of the building. No other occupants were located inside. Approximately fourteen San Bernardino County firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and keep the fire from spreading to an attached carport and other nearby structures.

The sole occupant of the outbuilding, a male in his late 60’s, was transported by American Medical Response to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center with burn wounds to 75% of his body.

The fire appears to have been caused by an unattended camp stove being used for cooking inside the outbuilding. The fire remains under investigation. The explosions heard by neighbors were found to be from medical oxygen tanks that were nearby.