An explosion and fire Thursday in a single-story building adjacent to a Good Hope church seriously injured a man and caused major damage to the structure.
The blaze was reported about 10:20 a.m. Thursday at 24101 Christmas Tree Lane, near Slaughter Road, in the unincorporated community, located just north of Meadowbrook, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said that multiple engine crews were sent to the location but were delayed after they encountered difficulties due to poor road conditions leading to the property.
Sheriff’s deputies were the first to arrive and encountered a man standing along the roadside with numerous burn injuries, described by first responders at the scene as critical.
A REACH Air ambulance was sent and retrieved the victim, whose identity was not disclosed, flying him to Arrowhead Regional Burn Center for treatment.
No one else was hurt.
Firefighters found the roughly 2,000-square-foot “kitchen building” in flames and partially collapsed, according to reports from the scene.
The fire was completely extinguished shortly after 11 a.m.
Both SoCal Edison and SoCal Gas Co. technicians were summoned to conduct inspections and ensure there were no ongoing electrical or natural gas hazards.
Firefighters cleared the scene shortly before 1 p.m.
The cause of the explosion was under investigation.