EL CHICANo Weekly
Vol 60, NO. 49
Nov. 30, 20 23
Fir e Fr e n zy in Sa n Ber n a r d in o : Fo u r Su sp i ci ou s Fi r es o n Nov 25 Calls for Colton and Rialto's Aid
iecn.com
Op-Ed: The Kids Are Home For the Holidays. How’s Their Mental Health? Pg. 3
PHOTO SBC FIRE
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San Bernardino County Fire responding with five Engines, two truck companies, two chief officers and two fire investigators at 340 W Fourth St. on November 25, 2023.
By Manny Sandoval
an Bernardino County Fire Department grappled with a series of alarming fires on November 25, 2023, prompting a significant response and sparking an arson investigation. The first incident was reported at 5:40 PM at 340 West Fourth Street, a vacant building in San Bernardino. Callers to 911 alerted the authorities to visible fire. Upon arrival,
Fontana Unified’s Southridge Tech Middle School Redesignated as Microsoft Showcase School
PHOTO SBC FIRE
Anyone with information of an arson crime is urged to contact the Fire Investigation Unit at 909-347-1771 and ask to speak with an investigator, as any information received may help achieve a conviction in an arson case.
fire crews encountered smoke and flames from the first floor. Despite the rapid spread, the fire was subdued within 10 minutes, and thorough searches confirmed no victims. The initial response included five engines, two truck companies, and several chief officers and investigators.
Later in the evening, at 8:55 PM, crews were called back to the exact location. This time, the fire was on the second floor. The blaze was more challenging, necessitating a
second alarm and a 25-minute effort to extinguish. Again, no victims were found, and the fire's cause remained under investigation, distinct from the earlier incident. While battling the second fire, at 9:31 PM, smoke was spotted at an adjacent building at 398 West Fourth Street. Firefighters rescued an individual hanging from a window and quickly contained the fire, which had Fires cont. on next pg.
CAPSBC Distributes 6,750 Turkeys in November and Launches a Virtual Toy Drive for Low Income Families
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Inland Free and Low Cost Empir e Community Holiday Events Newspaper s Of fice: (909) 381- 9898
E dito rial:
Pg. 5
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H OW TO R E AC H US
Inland Empir e Co mmunity Newspaper s Of fice: (909) 381-9898
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A dvertisi ng: iecn1@ mac .com
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PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
CAPSBC, Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy, and community members bracing themselves for the line ahead - minutes before the start of the Turkey Giveaway.
By Manny Sandoval
n a remarkable display of community spirit and generosity, the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) hosted a massive Turkey Giveaway event at its headquarters, bringing holiday cheer to countless families across San Bernardino County.
An hour before the event's official 10 AM start, a line of eager recipients snaked along Tippecanoe Avenue and around Mill Street,
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
Mayor Helen Tran handing a mother snack packs for her children.
highlighting the community's need and enthusiasm. Attendees were greeted with a hearty 14-16 pound turkey, food boxes, snack packs for children, and an assortment of vendor freebies.
Patricia Nickols-Butler, CEO of CAPSBC, expressed her gratitude, "On behalf of Community Action Partnership and Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy, we thank everyone for their overwhelming support. Today's turnout is a testament to our community's commitment to combating food insecurity. The presence of our
dedicated staff, board members, partner agencies, vendors, and notably, our Mayor underscores the true spirit of Thanksgiving."
San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, energetically greeting families despite being nine months pregnant, added, "This event is a beautiful example of community collaboration. I'm proud to witness our volunteers' dedication as we distribute 1,500 turkeys and holiday boxes. Seeing our CAPSBC cont. on next pg.