Child's Candle Sparks Fresno Apartment Fire, Firefighter Juan Galindo Injured

Firefighter Juan Galindo suffered minor to moderate burns to his ears after entering a burning Fresno apartment twice to rescue children trapped by the flames, Fresno fire officials said. Galindo, who has served nearly 10 years at Station 5 on Shields Avenue and Fresno Street, was treated after the rescue and described the pain as feeling like his ears were "literally melting off my head."

Chief Billy Alcorn praised Galindo's actions and said Galindo "was told to go home because of his burns, which is protocol, but he said he wasn't leaving until he knew the child was safe." Fire officials said one child suffered mild burns while a second child remained hospitalized; investigators believe the cause of the apartment fire was an unattended candle.

The apartment incident was described by fire officials as occurring Thursday night at an apartment complex in Fresno. Fire crews performed interior rescues and medical treatment on scene; Galindo's twice-entry into the burning unit was singled out by command as instrumental in removing children from immediate danger.

Separately, the Fresno Fire Department reported a distinct 2-alarm house fire in Southeast Fresno after a toddler knocked over a candle. That blaze occurred just after 8 p.m. Tuesday at a home near 3rd Street and Lowe, where crews were able to contain the fire "to the second story and attic portion of the first story." Fire officials said everyone inside that house "was able to get out safely" and one person was being treated for blistering on the arm.

An additional brief account noted that "a child playing with a candle ignited a fire inside a Fresno apartment Friday afternoon," and a social media post stated, "The cause of the fire was determined to be a child playing with a candle. This is the second fire this month caused by children playing with", the social post text was cut off in the supplied material. Those reports did not include the same details on injuries or location as the Thursday apartment incident and the Tuesday house fire.

Because the supplied accounts list different days and different building types, Thursday night at an apartment complex, Tuesday just after 8 p.m. at a Southeast Fresno house near 3rd and Lowe, and a separate Friday-afternoon apartment reference, fire officials and records will need to confirm whether these descriptions refer to one incident or multiple separate fires. At least one account specifically identifies Galindo and his station; other accounts offer the 2-alarm classification, containment details, and a blistering injury to one occupant.

Fire command confirmed investigators "believe the cause of the fire was an unattended candle" in the apartment case and are continuing inquiries into cause, timing, and the full count and condition of those injured or displaced. Officials have not provided additional consolidated incident logs tying the accounts together; verification of exact dates, hospital destinations and displacement figures remains pending.