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Nature’s call alerts resident to deadly San Mateo fire
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Ray Tulloh explains the chain of events that lead to his discovery of a two-alarm blaze at his neighbor’s house.
SAN MATEO (Map, News) - An early morning fire Thursday that consumed two houses, displaced 16 people and killed two puppies in San Mateo was dangerously close to taking human lives, residents say, if it weren’t for the full bladder of a neighbor.
Ray Tulloh, who lives adjacent to the Lodi Avenue houses that caught fire, said he had woken up to go to the bathroom early Thursday morning and flipped on the TV to help him snuggle back to slumber, when the power suddenly went out.
He said he almost went back to sleep, but on a whim decided to check the fuse box.
It was then, he said, that he saw smoke billowing out of the garage at 1533 Lodi Ave.
Tulloh recalls racing to the front of the house and rattling the locked front door. He said he then started banging on the door and shouting for residents inside to wake up while trying to grab a water hose.
Just as he was about to break down the front door, three people from the house ran out barefoot, followed by swells of smoke and flame.
“Ray is our hero,” 24-year-old Moreen Singh said Thursday, standing across the street from her blackened home.
She said she could hardly remember how to dial 911, she was so stunned and shaken. As emergency crews responded, the neighbor’s house at 1541 Lodi Ave. also caught fire in the two-alarm blaze. The neighbors from that residence evacuated their house unharmed.
The only ones who didn’t escape were the puppies, which were in the garage, where the fire is believed to have started.
“We ran out and we heard our puppies whining. We turned around to get them but there was just smoke and flames and windows breaking and things exploding. We couldn’t go back in. We just stood there helplessly watching it all burn,” Singh said.
The San Mateo Fire Department said the blaze may have originated with an electrical problem in the garage. The fire, which caused an estimated $400,000 of total damage for both houses, was under control by about 4:20 a.m., fire officials said.
Comments from Examiner Readers
5:42 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Fire could summon 14th-century fear"
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12:16 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008
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12:41 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008
re: "Man’s grudge vanishes as blaze begins"
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10:06 PM MST on Tue., May. 20, 2008
re: "Residents find their apartment complex garage up in smoke"
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12:14 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008
re: "Firefighters uncover marijuana at Mission district fire"
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8:11 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008
re: "Fire spreads through Mission apartments"
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7:22 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 17, 2008
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10:53 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 7, 2007
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6:33 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007
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3:43 PM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007
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Albert Franklin said:
75,000,000 died during the Black Plague starting with 1354! What percent of this were European Christians? How does this play with America's and West Indian's Christians who were also exterminated because of their Christianity? What dreaded diseases brought them down from San Francisco to Gilroy and who is responsible other than France? If October 31 marks "All Saints Day" in Europe, why do we call Mexico's "Days of the Dead," not "All Saints Day" when it begins on the following day: 1, 2, and 3 November?
6 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This story reveals yet more fear mongering propagated by the media. The real story here is not the possibility of a plague, but the desperation of an Examiner reporter looking to scoop a story. Give me a break.
8 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
he should have let it burn ... only section 8 drug dealers and illegal aliens lived in the apartment
453 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
that's too bad. wish him the best of luck
9 agree | 7 disagree
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Seven said:
In the Mission, the surprise would be if they DIDN'T find marijuana.
8 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I live just one block from the Valencia fire i would like to give massive credit to the SFFD for the way they handled this fire.. Way to go guys and gals...
16 agree | 9 disagree
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Eddie House said:
I would like to know why the police & fire department refused to investigate and take action against the tenants that discarded cigarettes onto my boat cover, on the dry grass area around my stack of firewood. On two occasions I found burned wood laminate strips placed on my deck and dry grass near the boat. But most of all want to know why after 12 or more false calls of burning trash “ and the city knows damn well they were FALSE CALLS as they broke into my home only to find firewood in the EPA woodstove” WHY DID YOU CONTINUE TO HARRASS ME ? AND NOT TAKE ACTION ON THE TENANTS THAT MADE THESE FALSE CALLS OF TRASH BEING BURNED?
493 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
When your being evicted from your apartment, you go out with a blaze of glory ? Or just another attempt to set fire to his boat that went all to wrong ? No cleaning or security depost refund for you ! But you are entitled to free room & board at the county jail !.
273 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I better watch out! I'll try not to cry... When Santa Claus comes to town I'll be wearing a frown when reporters get wind that; Citizens "took" gifts...instead of ; Citizens "received" gifts... Geeze!
178 agree | 187 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Very interesting and informative article. In Nashville Tn group home providers with less than 8 clients with disabilities are now required to have sprinkler system and many will close due to a lack funds. Who can I contact to get assistance? Perrion Gordon
194 agree | 195 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i am allans daughter kaitlyn and i just wanted to say that he will be forever missed and that he loved doing wat he was i never loved any one theway a daughter loves a father. love, kaitlyn roberts
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Examiner Reader said:
Who cares?
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Examiner Reader said:
Why is this a story? It was $1,200 and the city reviewed and approved. Sounds like someone is trying to make something out of nothing. Shame on you.
506 agree | 362 disagree
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Precious Jenkins said:
i am one of the nieces of the decreased and the cousin of the mother. this is and was a terrible fire that took 5 members of our family. annette was my father's youngest sister and one of my godmother. my father just had lost a sister 1 year and 4 days before. and now he only have one sister. this fire made our family feel that life to short to be walking around and not talking and loving your family members. a family that prays together says together!!!
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