EL CAJON, Calif. – Two good Samaritans, including a plumber, jumped to action Thursday to assist in extinguishing a brush fire along an East County freeway.
The brush fire sparked along Interstate 8 between El Cajon Boulevard and Johnson Avenue just before noon Thursday.
A Roto-Rooter worker stopped on the I-8 when he saw the flames.
“I pulled over, called 911 and told them where the fire was,” said Philip Spear, a longtime employee of the plumbing company.
Moments later another driver pulled over at the scene.
“He said ‘I want to do something,’” Spear recalls. “And I told the guy ‘well I’ve got water and he said ‘you’ve got water? I used to be a firefighter!’”
Spear’s work truck is equipped with a large water tank and a hose. SkyFox captured video of the two in action at the scene.
“We started unreeling the hose of the hydro-jetter, pulled it back to the fire and he jumped over the fence,” Spear said. “I started feeding him hose. He went up and down the hill. We got the east side out and then we got the north side out and got the trees cleared.”
Heartland Fire Department crews arrived and with the assistance of the two men, the fire was contained before it could damage a nearby building. Officials said they recommend leaving firefighting to the professionals, but understand the need to help in certain situations.
“Everything worked out just right,” said Spear.
Officials said the cause of the fire is “undetermined.” They said there were numerous possible ignition sources found along the embankment, such as lighters and cigarettes.
The trolley system was temporarily shut down due to the fire.
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