A father of three suffered third-degree burns on 90 percent of his body after becoming engulfed in flames at a shopping center in California last month.
Police in Victorville, about 85 miles northeast of Los Angeles, responded to reports that a man was on fire the evening of March 30 in the area of Bear Valley Road and Dunia Road.
“Deputies located items consistent with combustible materials and a preliminary determination suggests the fire was accidental,” the Victorville Police Department said.
Video shared with Victor Valley News showed a large fire burning near an electrical box that was surrounded by bushes.
The man, identified by his family in a GoFundMe as a 35-year-old named Joel, was suffering from severe burns and was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
“Our family is completely heartbroken,” the GoFundMe, created by Joel’s sister-in-law Jenny, read. “Joel is a father of three, and his children need him. Watching someone you love go through something this devastating is something you can never be prepared for.”
Over the past few weeks, Joel has undergone “multiple life-saving” procedures to remove the damaged skin tissue from his arms, legs, chest and back, according to the fundraiser.
“This week, he is scheduled for additional surgeries as part of his ongoing treatment. Due to complications from the burns, his abdomen became dangerously swollen from fluid buildup, and surgeons had to perform an emergency procedure to relieve the pressure,” the fundraiser read.
While the father of three is responding well to the treatment, his condition remains critical, according to the fundraiser.
“His road to recovery will be long and incredibly difficult. He will require ongoing surgeries, skin grafts, specialized wound care, and long-term medical support,” the fundraiser said.
His family said the funds would go to physical therapy, specialized burn treatment, long-term rehabilitation assistance, medications and other care. The fundraiser had received nearly $2,000 in donations as of Tuesday.
“Joel is deeply loved. He is not just a patient — he is a father, a brother and someone who matters deeply to all of us,” the fundraiser added.
Authorities described the victim as a “transient” from Hesperia, in San Bernardino County.
Witnesses told Victor Valley News that they believed the man was homeless and described the area where the fire broke out as a possible encampment.
The Victorville Police Department’s Arson/Bomb Detail and the San Bernardino County Arson Investigator are both probing the incident.
Their investigations remain ongoing. The Independent has contacted the police for more information.
