Two firefighters have died after a fire at a library in Porterville, California, which police believe was started deliberately by two 13-year-old boys. Fire Captain Raymond Figueroa, 35, and firefighter Patrick Jones, 25, lost their lives battling the blaze at the Porterville Public Library on Tuesday.
The fire was reported at around 4:15 p.m. local time after staff noticed flames in the children's section. The building, constructed in 1953, lacked sprinklers, according to Porterville Fire Department Captain Joanne Bear. The fire quickly spread, causing the roof to collapse.
More than 50 firefighters from Cal Fire, Tulare County and Fresno County assisted Porterville city crews in bringing the fire under control. The bodies of the two firefighters were recovered; Figueroa died at the scene, while Jones was found late Wednesday night.
Police Chief Eric Kroutil said the two teenagers were seen fleeing the library shortly after the fire started and were arrested on Tuesday. They face charges of arson, manslaughter and conspiracy. 'Our investigation led us to two 13-year-old Porterville residents who have been determined to have started this fire,' Kroutil stated.
The library, which houses around 77,000 books, was extensively damaged. Local resident Cecelia Nunes Martinez expressed her shock, saying she called friends inside to check on their safety. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with fire officials highlighting the significant fuel load in the building.
