Good Samaritans Stomp Out Fire on Old Julian Highway

Kevin Fryman and his girlfriend, Joanna Rowan, were driving down the 100 block of Old Julian Highway Thursday afternoon when they noticed a fire. The two stopped along the road to help two other good Samaritans put out the fire before the fire truck even arrived!

While the cause of fire is unknown, the do-gooders suspect it may have been a tossed cigarette. Though the fire remained relatively small, it could've easily turned into something much bigger.

Here are the couple's accounts of the story and why it was so important for them to take action.

Kevin Fryman

I was driving into town from our home, just above the San Diego Country Estates, when I saw a fire. I pulled over across the street and grabbed a 2-quart bottle of water that I happened to have in my truck at the time. Two others had already stopped, and they were trying to put it out with little water bottles. 

The area in front of the house, along the roadside, had dried grass and leaves about 2-3 inches thick. There is a gated chain link fence, so the guy that had stopped had clipped the irrigation pipe in the accessible yard to try to refill his water bottle... it was painfully slow.

I thought that if the fire spread, it would jump to the oleander bushes nearby.  It was about to really go. So, I poured my water on it and stomped out the rest. I think it most likely was a burning cigarette butt.

Joanna Rowan

We pulled over and ran to help put the fire out. I spoke with a lady that was there trying to help put it out, too. She said she had already called the fire department. She and the man were there for about 15 minutes. 

Kevin and I stomped the fire out. I only had flip flops on my feet, so I was nervous.  Kevin stomped most of it out with his size 14s! When the fire truck arrived, the fire was only smoldering at that point. 

They were trying to figure out the cause. We all think it was a cigarette tossed aside from a thoughtless person. What else could it be? So scary to think that the home could have caught fire had people not have stopped to take action. 

I work at CVS and hear the stories from people that have lost their homes to fires. Kevin's parents purchased a place here in '08 to rebuild the home that was lost in the '07 Witchcreek fire. We've seen the devastation that fire can cause.

People need to be more careful when it comes to these things. Put your cigarette butts in an ashtray! It's pretty simple. Thankfully, this was caught and put out before it did more damage.

What would you have done if you were in Kevin and Joanna's position? Tell us in the comments.