Orange County Fire Service Mourns Devastating Fire That Severely Damaged Coldenham Fire Station

The Orange County emergency services community is rallying behind the Coldenham Fire District after a devastating fire heavily damaged the department's fire station early Tuesday morning, leaving much of its apparatus and equipment destroyed.

The fire broke out shortly after 3:00 a.m., when firefighters responded to an automatic fire alarm at their own station, only to find it had escalated into a working fire. Several firefighters were injured while battling the blaze but have since been treated and released from the hospital, according to Fire Chief Matthew Hunt.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the department says it has already begun the long process of cleaning up, taking inventory, and restoring operations. Firefighters continue responding to emergency calls with limited resources while neighboring departments provide mutual aid and support.

"Our station may be severely damaged, and our rigs may be mostly destroyed, but rest assured—we are still here," Chief Hunt said in a message to the community.

Throughout the day, neighboring fire departments and emergency agencies from across Orange County have offered apparatus, equipment, and other assistance, while local residents stopped by with meals and messages of encouragement. The department expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support but asked that food donations be paused for now due to the lack of refrigeration and storage space.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.