A Mount Hope father is fighting for his life after using his own body as a shield to protect his 2-year-old son during a fast-moving fire that tore through the family’s Carlos Street duplex over the weekend. Neighbors said explosions rocked the block as thick black smoke poured from the home. The blaze destroyed the family’s belongings and killed two of their pets.
According to 10News, the Dehnz family was upstairs when an explosion downstairs suddenly turned the stairwell into what relatives described as an impassable wall of flames. Family members told reporters that Rick wrapped himself around his son, Ricky, as they tried to escape. Rick suffered second- and third-degree burns over more than 50 percent of his body and was placed on a ventilator, while Ricky’s mother, Shaliah, was treated and released within a day. The toddler sustained burns to his back and hands and a singe on the tip of his nose; both father and son were reported to be undergoing surgeries on Wednesday. Fire crews found an e-bike battery at the scene, the family’s belongings were destroyed and, while they did have renters’ insurance, officials say the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
“They were upstairs getting ready as a family when they heard an explosion downstairs,” Kolenya Dempsey told 10News. Dempsey said Rick “covered baby Ricky, shielded him, and that’s how his whole back, his face, burned.” Neighbors recalled hearing “explosions, then everyone screaming” as firefighters rushed in to knock down the flames.
E-bike Battery Find Puts Focus on Fire Risks
The City of San Diego’s Fire-Rescue and Environmental Services departments have been warning residents about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries, urging people to follow manufacturer instructions because “these fires burn hotter and faster than typical home fires,” according to a City of San Diego press release. The release notes that improper storage, damaged cells or overcharging can trigger lithium-ion battery fires and points residents to local hazardous-waste collection sites for safe disposal. Officials recommend using certified chargers, avoiding overnight charging of e-bike batteries and removing or replacing batteries that show any damage as straightforward steps to cut the risk.
Neighbors Rally as Family Faces Long Road Back
A fundraiser for the Dehnz family had pulled in roughly $17,466 toward a $150,000 goal, according to the family’s GoFundMe page. Organizers say the money will go toward immediate essentials like clothing, baby supplies and temporary housing while Rick and his son undergo surgeries and rehabilitation. Relatives and neighbors have been posting updates and asking for privacy as the family navigates what is expected to be a long recovery…