Firefighters save pets from house destroyed by...

Firefighters save pets from house destroyed by fire

Huntington Beach firefighters rescued three dogs and several birds

from a two-alarm fire on Saturday evening, but lost one dog to smoke

inhalation.

The residents were not home when firefighters arrived at the

two-story house on Bolin Circle just before 6 p.m. Saturday where

flames were shooting from the skylight and windows. It took 21

firefighters about 20 minutes to put out the blaze that caused an

estimated $450,000 in damage.

Fire companies from four neighboring cities were called for

back-up, but Huntington crews had the fire under control. The cause

of the fire is being investigated.

Boy lost in surf presumed drowned, still missing

The 18-year-old El Monte boy who is suspected to have drowned in

the surf off of Huntington Beach Friday is still missing.

Roy Ken Lee was swimming at the city beach off Beach Boulevard

with a friend at about 5 p.m. when both became caught in the rising

surf. Lee was last seen struggling toward the shore, said Sgt.

Michael Mello. His friend made it out of the water unharmed, but Lee

never surfaced.

Friends immediately called 911 and city lifeguards and the Police

Department, including the police helicopter, began searching that

evening and continued air and boat searches, mobile unit patrol and

tower surveillance during daylight hours.

At the time of the incident, water temperature was 59 degrees, the

air temperature was 60 degrees and wind speed was 22 mph, said Marine

Safety Lt. Mike Beuerlein.

“It was windy and choppy with strong surf and strong currents,”

Beuerlein said.

The search is ongoing, but Mello said the boy has been presumed as

drowned.

Death of eighth-grade girl still under investigation

The cause of death for the eighth-grade Huntington Beach girl who

died Tuesday evening is still unknown.

Dana Hooten, 14, died at 8:48 p.m. Tuesday at Huntington Beach

Hospital. Officials at the Orange County coroner’s office say it

could take as long as eight weeks to determine the cause of the

death. A service will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Living Waters

Christian Fellowship in Fountain Valley.