Firefighters responded to the blaze near Palm Avenue late Thursday night and found the home engulfed in flames and smoke, according to Hemet Fire Chief Ryan Webb and Captain Laura Axcell. They had received several 911 calls which also mentioned that two people were possibly trapped inside the single-story duplex so firefighters started a rescue operation.

They forced their way into the home, where they found a person in full cardiac arrest, fire officials said. After performing life-saving measures, they regained a pulse and the victim started breathing again. First responders had the victim airlifted to a hospital for further treatment. 

A second person who survived had escaped the flames and was just outside the home when firefighters arrived, fire officials said. They were taken to a nearby hospital to treat injuries which fire officials described as minor.

Firefighters managed to stop the blaze from spreading to neighboring homes but six nearby residents were still displaced and were being assisted by Red Cross, officials said.

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HEMET, CA — Two fires broke out in East Hemet on Wednesday, though no injuries were reported.

The blazes were occurred within minutes of each other.

The first was reported at 1:10 p.m. in the 43600 block of Walden Way, near Chelsea Way, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple county and Soboba Indian Reservation engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames raging inside the two-car garage, attached to the residence via a breezeway.

Firefighters deployed inside and around the house, stopping the flames from penetrating the living quarters, according to reports from the scene.

The man and woman living in the home, whose identities were not disclosed, were displaced, along with their large dog, according to the fire department.

Red Cross personnel were requested to assist the victims with finding temporary alternate lodgings.

Another fire that broke out Wednesday in East Hemet scorched a half-acre and caused minor damage to property belonging to a business.

The blaze was reported at 1:15 p.m. in the 25800 block of North Cornell Street, near Highway 74, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine crews from the county and Hemet Fire Department were sent to the location and encountered flames in open space but barely budging due to generally calm conditions.

A commercial structure was in the path of the fire as it moved south, and the flames reached the edge of the property but not the business, according to reports from the scene.

The blaze was fully contained at about 1:40 p.m.

Firefighters were expected to complete mop-up operations by 3 p.m.

The cause of the fires were under investigation.

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File # MV231550264

Details:

On Sunday, June 4, 2023, about 7:00 p.m., deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of a house fire in the 15000 block of Carolina Avenue. CalFire also responded and extinguished the flames preventing the fire from traveling to neighboring homes. It appeared the fire started due to an illegal electrical bypass used to power an illegal marijuana grow. Deputies authored and served a search warrant at the residence, where they located evidence of an illegal marijuana grow operation. Moreno Valley Code Enforcement was contacted and will conduct a separate investigation into the safety of the structure and the marijuana operation. No one was in the home at the time of the fire, and there were no reported injuries. There are no suspects in custody at this time; the investigation is ongoing.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.

Any additional information about this fire and illegal cultivation operation is encouraged to call Deputy E. Garcia of the Moreno Valley Station POP Team or Deputy J. Leon Watch 1 Patrol at (951)-486-6700.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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RiversideCA.gov | Contributed

On Friday, November 25, 2022 at approximately 11:08 a.m., Riverside Police Officers were dispatched to check the welfare of a young female who appeared distressed while getting into a Red Kia Soul with a man along the 11200 block of Price Court, located in the La Sierra South neighborhood of Riverside. While officers were responding, our Public Safety Communications Center began receiving calls of a structure fire just a few houses away from where the check the welfare call originated. 

The Riverside Fire Department arrived first and reported a working fire on the first floor of the residence. They initiated a fire attack, made entry, then discovered three adult victims laying on the ground in the front entry way. Their bodies were pulled outside where it was determined they were victims of an apparent homicide. Firefighters continued their efforts until the fire was placed under control and eventually extinguished. 

Detectives with the Robbery – Homicide Unit, along with Specialists from the Forensics Unit, responded and assumed the investigation. They have been assisted by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and Arson Investigators with the Riverside Fire Department. 

The victims have been identified as 69-year-old Mark Winek, his wife 65-year-old Sharie Winek, and their daughter 38-year-old Brooke Winek. The exact cause and manner of their deaths are still pending. The cause of the house fire continues to be under investigation although it appears at this point to have been intentionally ignited.

During the preliminary investigation, it was determined the young female described in the initial check the welfare call was a teenager who lived where the house fire and homicides occurred. The man she accompanied was eventually identified as 28-year-old Austin Lee Edwards of North Chesterfield, Virginia. 

Information was relayed to allied law enforcement agencies regarding this triple homicide and Edwards’ vehicle description while detectives sought warrants for his arrest and attempted to determine his current whereabouts. Several hours later, he was discovered driving with the teen through San Bernardino County when he was located by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in the unincorporated area of Kelso. Edwards fired gunshots at deputies and a deputy-involved shooting occurred where he was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene.

The teen was unharmed and later placed into protective custody of the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services.

Detectives determined Edwards had met the female teenager through the common form of online deception known as “catfishing,” where someone pretends to be a different person than they actually are. It is believed Edwards had developed an online relationship with the teen and obtained her personal information. He traveled from Virginia to Riverside where he parked his vehicle in a neighbor’s driveway and walked to the teen’s home. At some point, he murdered the teen’s grandfather, grandmother, and mother before walking back to his vehicle with the teen and leaving. Detectives learned Edwards had worked for the Virginia State Police until recently employed at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the state of Virginia.

“Our hearts go out to the Winek family and their loved ones during this time of tremendous grief, as this is a tragedy for all Riversiders,” stated Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez. “This is yet another horrific reminder of the predators existing online who prey on our children. If you’ve already had a conversation with your kids on how to be safe online and on social media, have it again. If not, start it now to better protect them.” 

This investigation is still ongoing and there are no other details to release at this time. Anyone with additional and relevant information should contact Detective Josh Ontko at (951) 353-7135 or JOntko@RiversideCA.gov, or Detective Bryan Galbreath at (951) 353-7105 or BGalbreath@RiversideCA.gov. 

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