Name: Fish Tank Fire on First Floor, Residents Evacuating video
Uploaded: 2026-08-09T23:58:52.000Z
Description: Firefighters responded to a structure fire at Monarch Cottages nursing home in La Jolla, California, where a fish tank fire on the first floor prompted the evacuation of residents. Nearby roads were closed, and utilities were managed to support the emergency response.

Overhaul Phase Started

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Firefighters responded to a structure fire at Monarch Cottages nursing home in La Jolla, California, where a fish tank fire on the first floor prompted the evacuation of residents. Nearby roads were closed, and utilities were managed to support the emergency response.

Fish Tank Fire on First Floor, Residents Evacuating

Metro, FAIC. FAIC, go ahead. Requesting one additional ALS ambulance. We are assessing one 80-year-old male. Medic 35 was one 80-year-old male. Unknown chief complainant at this time. FAIC, Metro copies. Requesting one additional ALS ambulance. Medic 35 was one 80-year-old male. Unknown chief complainant at this time.

Metro, FAIC. FAIC, go ahead. Requesting one additional ALS ambulance. We are assessing one 80-year-old male. Medic 35 was one 80-year-old male. Unknown chief complainant at this time. FAIC, Metro copies. Requesting one additional ALS ambulance. Medic 35 was one 80-year-old male. Unknown chief complainant at this time. Chief complainant.

An additional ambulance is requested to assess an 80-year-old male at the scene.

Metro, AIC, can you dispatch the health department? We have smoke inside the kitchen area.

 AIC, Metro copies, requesting to dispatch the health department for smoke inside the kitchen area.

Metro, AIC, can you dispatch the health department? We have smoke inside the kitchen area. AIC, Metro copies, requesting to dispatch the health department for smoke inside the kitchen area.

The health department has been requested due to smoke inside the kitchen area.

AIC Metro, you are 40 minutes into your incident.

 Alright, copy. You can just continue the timer. We're moving into the overhaul phase as well as repopulating the building.

 Systems taking a reset holding. Give you an update on commitment time. We're releasing some second alarm units shortly.

AIC Metro, you are 40 minutes into your incident. Alright, copy. You can just continue the timer. We're moving into the overhaul phase as well as repopulating the building. Systems taking a reset holding. Give you an update on commitment time. We're releasing some second alarm units shortly.

According to firefighters, they are moving into the overhaul phase and beginning to repopulate the building. Some units will be released soon.

 KIC, Leitner 40, we're on scene. Do you have a spot for me?

 That spot's going to be coming from the south, half Engine 21, you've got a lane, half Medic 35, right to B5's vehicle. I'll put you at the closest spot.

 KIC Metro, you're 40 minutes into your incident.

KIC, Leitner 40. Go ahead, Leitner 40. KIC, Leitner 40, we're on scene. Do you have a spot for me? That spot's going to be coming from the south, half Engine 21, you've got a lane, half Medic 35, right to B5's vehicle. I'll put you at the closest spot. Leitner 40. KIC Metro, you're 40 minutes into your incident. Metro KIC.

An additional fire crew has arrived on scene to assist with ongoing operations.

16 TAC. Go for division 2. That's a positive in 206. Located and confined to the closet. Copy.

Firefighters have located and confined the fire to a closet on the second floor.

Once we get the alarm secure, ventilation complete, we'll talk about a plan.

 And they may have another proper move, a few people that don't want to stay there tonight

Once we get the alarm secure, ventilation complete, we'll talk about a plan. And they may have another proper move, a few people that don't want to stay there tonight inside of their business district. We'll get back to you in 15.

Firefighters are planning for possible relocation of residents who cannot stay overnight. Ventilation efforts continue.

 I have confirmation via the employees here in their log.

 All residents are accounted for, including the three residents sheltered in place.

 All employees accounted for, including the three residents sheltering with, uh, the three employees sheltered residents.

IC Division 2, TAC. Go ahead, Division 2. I have confirmation via the employees here in their log. All residents are accounted for, including the three residents sheltered in place. All employees accounted for, including the three residents sheltering with, uh, the three employees sheltered residents. Okay.

All residents and employees are accounted for, including those sheltered in place.

Say IC, Metro 9 Alpha, additionally, Red Cross has an ETA of about two hours.

 IC copies, ETA of two hours. Give an update and assess if we're going to need to utilize them.

Say IC, Metro 9 Alpha, additionally, Red Cross has an ETA of about two hours. IC copies, ETA of two hours. Give an update and assess if we're going to need to utilize them. Say IC, Metro copies.

Red Cross is expected to arrive in about two hours to assist evacuees.

 Division 2, have you completed a secondary search?

Go ahead for Division 2. Division 2, have you completed a secondary search? That's affirm. Secondary is all clear. IC copies.

According to firefighters, the secondary search is complete with no occupants found inside.

 Mike, we were on the second level when you saw me.

 They're saying that the standpipe should be on the first level in the open courtyard.

 Copy that, on the first floor below where we are now in the open courtyard.

Firefighter half, Division 2 on TAC. Firefighter half. Mike, we were on the second level when you saw me. There's one level below you. They're saying that the standpipe should be on the first level in the open courtyard. One level below where we are now. Copy that, on the first floor below where we are now in the open courtyard.

Firefighters are coordinating to locate the standpipe on the first floor in the open courtyard.

Conditions on the second floor, no smoke, just five minutes.

Conditions on the second floor, no smoke, just five minutes. 19, copy.

Crews report no smoke conditions on the second floor, confirming safety for remaining residents.

 I'm gathering the list of occupants now.

 I'm going to go down and confirm who's been evaluated.

 We have three occupants sheltered in place.

 Each occupant has an employee with them.

 So there's six civilians on the second floor.

 We're going to go down and confirm who's been evaluated.

IC Division 2. Go ahead, Division 2. Division 2 from Engine 21. I'm gathering the list of occupants now. I'm going to go down and confirm who's been evaluated. We have three occupants sheltered in place. Each occupant has an employee with them. So there's six civilians on the second floor. We're going to go down and confirm who's been evaluated.

Firefighters are confirming the status of six civilians on the second floor, including three sheltered residents.

 Metro, Fay IC, just an update on conditions.

 Got a primary surger treated on the first and second floor.

 We're going to have a knee for Red Cross.

 Unknown amount of patients, probably around 20 adults.

 We have an active sprinkler head holding all units.

Metro, Fay IC. Fay IC. Metro, Fay IC, just an update on conditions. Got knocked down on the fire. Got a primary surger treated on the first and second floor. Shelter in place, resident. We're going to have a knee for Red Cross. Unknown amount of patients, probably around 20 adults. And we're working on shutting down. We have an active sprinkler head holding all units.

Crews confirm the fire is knocked down. Red Cross assistance is needed for approximately 20 adults.

I see, for Mission 13, they're using officer, somebody in the Charlie side of the building

 to keep the workers from going back in and good Samaritans are trying to come in and help.

I see, for Mission 13, they're using officer, somebody in the Charlie side of the building to keep the workers from going back in and good Samaritans are trying to come in and help.

Firefighters are ensuring no unauthorized individuals enter the building during the ongoing response.

IC from Engine 13. I'm getting conflicting reports back here. We have one worker on the second floor who has the list of all of the occupants. And we have two residents, room 202 and 217, currently sheltered in place. And we're going to need Red Cross. I've got about 20 non-angulatory residents in the alley that are going to need some shade and care.

 on the first floor. Engine 13, you're going to be assigned to Division 2. You got...

IC from Engine 13. I'm getting conflicting reports back here. We have one worker on the second floor who has the list of all of the occupants. And we have two residents, room 202 and 217, currently sheltered in place. And we're going to need Red Cross. I've got about 20 non-angulatory residents in the alley that are going to need some shade and care. on the first floor. Engine 13, you're going to be assigned to Division 2. You got...

According to firefighters, two residents are sheltered in place on the second floor. Red Cross assistance is requested for evacuees.

IC from Engine 2. Go for IC. See, besides the three people on the second floor, primary's all clear.

 Copy, primary all clear on the second floor.

IC from Engine 2. Go for IC. See, besides the three people on the second floor, primary's all clear. Copy, primary all clear on the second floor.

Firefighters confirm the primary search is clear on the second floor, except for three individuals.

AC, Engine 35 at scene, staged. Received, Battalion 3 at scene.

Additional fire crews have arrived and are staged to assist as needed.

 IC, we have one resident in 202, and we have a resident and a caretaker in 209.

 I copy. 202 and 209 are due to shelter in place. You guys are going to need to come out.

 That's right. They're due to shelter in place. No smoke, no fire on the second floor.

 Okay, go ahead and get to primary. Let me know what your findings are and if anybody's able to shelter in place.

ICU from Division 2. Go for IC. IC, we have one resident in 202, and we have a resident and a caretaker in 209. I copy. 202 and 209 are due to shelter in place. You guys are going to need to come out. That's right. They're due to shelter in place. No smoke, no fire on the second floor. Okay, go ahead and get to primary. Let me know what your findings are and if anybody's able to shelter in place.

Fire personnel confirm no smoke or fire on the second floor; some residents are sheltering in place.

IC Engine 9, for workers, all occupants with the exception of two residents have been evacuated.

 Two residents located in rooms 209 and 211 on the second floor.

IC Engine 9, for workers, all occupants with the exception of two residents have been evacuated. Two residents located in rooms 209 and 211 on the second floor.

All occupants except two residents have been evacuated. Firefighters are assisting those on the second floor.

I see Truck 21 at scene. Truck 21, need you to coordinate ventilation with Division 1. Truck 21, copy.

An additional fire truck has arrived on scene to assist with ventilation.

IC, Division 1. Division 1, go for IC. Fire's been knocked down. We're working on ventilation.

 So far, Division 1, IC. I understand, knocked down, you were broken. Otherwise...

IC, Division 1. Division 1, go for IC. Fire's been knocked down. We're working on ventilation. So far, Division 1, IC. I understand, knocked down, you were broken. Otherwise...

Firefighters have knocked down the fire and are now working on ventilation.

2nd floor. I'm looking for confirmation as to whether or not there's any smoke migrated to the 2nd floor.

 Engine 52 copy, assign two fire attacks. I see Engine 21 at scene.

2nd floor. I'm looking for confirmation as to whether or not there's any smoke migrated to the 2nd floor. Engine 52 copy, assign two fire attacks. I see Engine 21 at scene.

Crews are checking for smoke on the second floor while two teams are assigned to fire attack.

Metro, AIC. AIC. A third to a second alarm.

 Heavy facility, probably not much fire, but we're going to have search and evacuation needs.

Metro, AIC. AIC. A third to a second alarm. Heavy facility, probably not much fire, but we're going to have search and evacuation needs.

The fire response has been upgraded to a second alarm due to search and evacuation needs, despite limited fire presence.

Say I see Metro, SDG&E and SDPD have both been notified.

Metro, say I see copies, all units responding, it's a fish tank burn on the first floor.

 We have employees trying to evacuate the area out of the rear.

 I'm trying to see if I can get them to shelter everybody on the second floor, and they're

 getting everybody out of the rear of the structure on the 360.

Say I see Metro, SDG&E and SDPD have both been notified.Metro, say I see copies, all units responding, it's a fish tank burn on the first floor. We have employees trying to evacuate the area out of the rear. I'm trying to see if I can get them to shelter everybody on the second floor, and they're getting everybody out of the rear of the structure on the 360. 63, I see nothing.

Firefighters report a fish tank fire on the first floor. Employees are evacuating residents from the rear.

 Add SDG&E both sides. Add SDTD to shut down, say, between Kline and La Jolla Boulevard, or Torrey Pines Boulevard, both directions.

 4 IC, Metro copies, requesting SDG&E both sides and requesting PD to shut down, say, between Kline and Torrey Pines, both...

Metro, 4 IC. 4 IC, go ahead. Add SDG&E both sides. Add SDTD to shut down, say, between Kline and La Jolla Boulevard, or Torrey Pines Boulevard, both directions. 4 IC, Metro copies, requesting SDG&E both sides and requesting PD to shut down, say, between Kline and Torrey Pines, both...

Authorities are coordinating to shut down nearby roads and manage utilities around the fire scene.

Metro, Engine 13. Engine 13. Engine 13 is at the scene of a two-story occupied nursing home,

 memory care. We have moderate brown smoke from the roof, audible alarm. Nobody appears to be

 evacuating. Respond on the hydrant, attacking the fire, assuming KIC.

Metro, Engine 13. Engine 13. Engine 13 is at the scene of a two-story occupied nursing home, memory care. We have moderate brown smoke from the roof, audible alarm. Nobody appears to be evacuating. Respond on the hydrant, attacking the fire, assuming KIC.

Firefighters report moderate brown smoke from the roof of the nursing home. Evacuations have not yet begun.

Engine 13's district. Battalion 2, Battalion 5, Engines, 13, 21, and 52, Engine 16, Truck 21, and Truck 28. Structure fire. 9 Alpha, 9 Bravo. 7630 Fay Avenue, Monarch Cottages. Cross streets, Pearl Street, and Kline Street. Battalion 2, Battalion 5, Engines, 13, 21, and 52.

Engine 13's district. Battalion 2, Battalion 5, Engines, 13, 21, and 52, Engine 16, Truck 21, and Truck 28. Structure fire. 9 Alpha, 9 Bravo. 7630 Fay Avenue, Monarch Cottages. Cross streets, Pearl Street, and Kline Street. Battalion 2, Battalion 5, Engines, 13, 21, and 52. Battalion 2.

Firefighters are responding to a report of a structure fire at Monarch Cottages.

A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 7630 Fay Ave.

Fish Tank Fire on First Floor, Residents Evacuating

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