Folsom fire kills 1 resident, injures 3 first responders

A resident rescued from a burning Folsom garage Sunday morning has since passed away, reportedly due to injuries that occurred in the blaze. Records released from the Sacramento County Coroner's Office identified the victim as 53-year-old Dale Wooldridge, who was a resident where the fire took place at 105 Gold Mine Court.As previously reported, first responders from the Folsom Fire Department and the Folsom Police Department, with assistance from Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, made a dramatic rescue from a structure fire in Folsom early Sunday. At 7:48 a.m. Sunday, units were dispatched to the 100 block of Gold Mine Court in the American River Canyon community for an initial report of smoke coming from the garage of a residence. While enroute to the fire, crews were updated by dispatchers that there was a possible victim trapped in the home's garage area.Firefighters from the Folsom Fire Department arrived to find Folsom Police Officers already on scene attempting to reach Wooldridge, who was trapped inside the garage. Upon arrival, firefighters were faced with heavy smoke and flames that were coming from the well-involved garage and extending all the way across the street. "Fire crews made the victim rescue the highest priority by aggressively attacking the fire so they could make access into the garage space," Folsom Fire Battalion Chief Clint Madden said. "Crews made access to the victim and removed the person from the building. The victim was immediately transported to U.C. Davis Medical Center."After Wooldridge was extricated from the structure, one cat and one dog were rescued later on. Fire crews then contained the flames to the garage area. The living space of the home sustained smoke damage but was not involved in fire. A total of five engine companies, two truck companies, two paramedic ambulances, two chief officers along with several Folsom Police patrol officers were dispatched to the scene. In the course of the rescue operation, two firefighters and one police officer sustained injuries and received treatment at area hospitals and are reportedly on the mend.Residents in the area reported hearing a loud explosion just before seeing the heavy smoke billowing from the structure as firefighters were en route. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.