By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
An Orland man died in a house fire early Thursday morning.
Calls began coming into the Glenn County Sheriff’s dispatch center at about 2:10 a.m.
Police scanner traffic indicated that Orland Police Officer Jose Flores discovered the fire while he was on patrol in the area. Upon reporting the fire, he was told other people had just called it in as well.
The fire began off the street, behind a house. Officer Flores could be heard attempting to determine precisely which house was the involved one.
The fire began in the rear, west side of the residence at 504 Third Street, then quickly spread to the front of the structure. This home was located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Third and Tehama Streets.
Officer Flores, followed soon thereafter by Orland Police Officer Katherine “Kat” Lowery, began working to account for how many people had been in the house and how many were out of it. It was concluded that three people had been inside at the start of the fire: Daniel Molen, 63, Vivian Cruz, 25, and Kent Molen, 56.
Kent Molen was quickly accounted for and remained on-scene throughout the pre-dawn morning. Vivian Cruz apparently escaped through a window, buy disappeared not long thereafter.
It was believed that Daniel Molen never made it out of the house. The remains of a person, believed by family members to be those of Daniel Molen, were later found inside.
Orland police officers, Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies, and California Highway Patrol officers quickly arrived at the scene. Among firefighters, the Orland Volunteer Fire Department, of course, was the first to arrive, followed by the Artois Fire Department and members of the Willows Fire Department.
After the fire had almost completely engulfed the house, an exceptionally loud explosion, perhaps a large propane tank, shook the neighborhood.
Hamilton City Fire Chief Dan James and Assistant Chief Hank Irick of the Glenn County Fire Investigation Team arrived at the scene after most of the fire was extinguished. They began investigating the cause and point of origin of the fire.
Somewhat later, firefighters entered the ruins of the house to bring out the remains of the person who was found inside. The family was gathered on the sidewalk along Third Street, at the front entrance to the property.
Firefighter and former Orland Fire Chief Jerry Kramer approached them and warned them that the body would soon be brought out and placed in the van from Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary. He told them that they might want to move to a different location to avoid the sight.
They chose to stay.
Firefighters carried the body out on a backboard, wrapped in a yellow body bag, and placed it in the van. Several firefighters were heard expressing their condolences to the family members.
The decedent was turned over to Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies for a coroner’s investigation and positive identification. Family members, however, had little doubt the body was that of Daniel Molen.
Although an official cause was not given at the scene of the fire, a law enforcement officer was heard saying that fallen power lines in the back of the property were seen not long after the fire was discovered.
The one bright spot to this tragedy: At least three of five housecats survived the fire.
The Glenn County Observer 