Community marks 6 years since deadly Porterville library fire

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It's been six years since a devastating fire at a library in Porterville, California, that killed two firefighters, Patrick Jones and Captain Ray Figueroa, who entered the burning building to ensure everyone was evacuated safely.

Why it matters

The Porterville library fire was a tragic event that shook the local community and highlighted the risks firefighters face in the line of duty. The city is now working to build a new library to replace the one destroyed, which will serve as a memorial to the fallen firefighters.

The details

Firefighters Jones and Figueroa entered the burning Porterville library in 2020 to make sure everyone had evacuated safely, but they did not make it out of the building alive. The fire caused extensive damage and the library has remained closed since then.

• The Porterville library fire occurred in 2020.
• It's been six years since the deadly fire.

What’s next

The city of Porterville is expected to complete construction on a new library in the next couple of years, which will serve as a memorial to the two firefighters who lost their lives.