EL MONTE -
The blaze was first reported about 8:45 p.m. at a uniform store in the 9900 block of Gidley Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Quvondo Johnson said.
El Monte police Officer Isacc Rodriguez and Art Saenz were the first officials to arrive on-scene in response to the call, El Monte police Sgt. Roger Cobian said.
"They were met by a man who said his wife was still inside the building," the sergeant said.
The officers ran into the burning building and quickly found 50-year-old Reina Ta, who was trying to battle the flames with a small fire extinguisher, police said.
"Officers grabbed the woman and carried her out of the building as it continued to burn, saving the woman from imminent injury," Cobian said.
Ta was treated at the scene by paramedics for minor injuries.
"I want to thank them for doing a good job and saving our building," Ta said. "Thank God I'm OK. I'm so grateful."
Officers Rodriguez and Saenz were hospitalized for treatment of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning and were later released.
Ta said she was working in the building when she heard some strange noises.
"I thought maybe it was a burglar or something," she said.
She looked around and soon smelled smoke, then opened a door to discover a portion of the building going up in flames.
"I was so scared," she said.
Ta said her thoughts immediately turned to saving the business, and she grabbed a small fire extinguisher to combat the flames.
While Ta said she was unhurt physically, "Mentally, I'm in shock."
Firefighters extinguished the blaze in less than 20 minutes, Johnson said.
The fire mainly centered on some items inside the building, as well as an awning, he added.
The fire caused an estimated $10,000 in damage, Johnson said, and the cause was believed to be an electrical problem with an outdoors outlet.
626-962-8811, ext. 2109
Copyright 2011 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Los Angeles Newspaper Group, Inc.All Rights Reserved
