Brothers Alert Family to Fire
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NORCO — Burning Christmas wrapping paper caused a roof fire here Thursday, but two quick-thinking brothers prevented a disaster, afire official said.
Al Wisdom of 3674 Sierra Ave. was burning Christmas wrapping paper in the fireplace of his one-story, single family dwelling at about 5 p.m. Burning debris from the chimney, which was not equipped with spark-arrestors, landed on the house’s wooden shake roof, according to Fire Chief Herb Jewell.
Two neighbors, Bert Horn, 14, and his brother Brandon, 11, saw the fire and ran to warn Wisdom, his wife and children. The boys then ran home and called the Fire Department on the 911 emergency line.
Three engine companies and one rescue squad unit, assisted by Corona firefighters, responded to the call and had the fire under control in less than 15 minutes.
There were no injuries to the occupants or firefighters, and damage to the roof--a third of which was destroyed--was put at $15,000.
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