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California man, 67, who relied on oxygen pump dies 12 minutes after PG&E cut down power to his home to prevent wildfires
- The fire department received a call from Pollock Pines, California, around 3.30am on Wednesday
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Crews arrived at the scene and found 67-year-old Robert Mardis Sr. unresponsive
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It was determined that he was dependent on oxygen and died just 12 minutes after Pacific Gas and Electric shut down power
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Although the cause of death has not formally been confirmed by officials, Mardis Sr.'s daughter believes the power shut down played a role
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PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith said it has not been able to confirm the accuracy of the report
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The power outage was part of a safety plan to prevent wildfires in the area
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Two people have died from the wildfires: a man in his late 50s from cardiac arrest and Lois Arvickson, 89, after a fire swept through her mobile home park
12 October, 2019
A Northern California man dependent on oxygen died just 12 minutes after Pacific Gas and Electric shut down power to the area as part of an effort to prevent fires.
El Dorado County Fire Chief Lloyd Ogan said on Friday that a call was placed to the fire department from Pollock Pines after 3.30am on Wednesday.
Crews arrived at the scene and found Robert Mardis Sr., 67, unresponsive and were unable to revive him, according to the Mountain Democrat.
Ogan said the man's oxygen equipment required power, but could not say whether the shutdown was related to his death.
Robert Mardis Sr., 67, (pictured) from Pollock Pines, California, dependent on oxygen died just 12 minutes after Pacific Gas and Electric shut down power to the area to prevent wildfires.
Mardis Sr.'s daughter, Marie Aldea, told FOX 40 that her father had several health issues and she believes the power cuts were involved in his death.
She said: 'He had health issues. He had really bad COPD, which didn’t help, and he had congestive heart failure and other health issues, but the power going off and him not being able to get to his oxygen is, I believe, is what did it.'
Mardis Sr.'s oxygen tank reportedly lost power during PG&E's power shutdown and he was unable to reach his battery-operated oxygen tank in time.
'He’ll never see my kids get married, he’ll never see his grandchildren,' Aldea said.
'How do you fix that? You don’t. You can’t. Something got taken away from me that I can never get back, and I will miss my father forever.'
Pictured: a map (pictured) showing the location of Mardis Sr.'s residence in Pollock Pines as one of the areas PG&E announced would receive power cuts starting as early as Wednesday morning
PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith said it has not been able to confirm the accuracy of the report.
The power company told Fox 40: 'We have no information on incident and have not been able to confirm the accuracy of the report. We refer you to local officials in El Dorado County.'
Governor Gavin Newson spoke out on Friday about the tragic death.
'Losing a family member is horrific and to the extent this was the reason why, I hope that is investigated and I hope those responsible are held to account,' he said.
Victim Lois Arvickson, 89 (pictured), of Calimesa, had been missing since Thursday night after the Sandalwood Fire swept through the mobile home park where she lived
The news of his death comes on the heels of the deaths of two others from the wildfires on Thursday: a man in his 50s who suffered cardiac arrest and Lois Arvickson, 89, after a fire swept through her mobile home park.
It's unclear whether the unnamed victim was pronounced dead at his home or in another location.
Winds gusted dangerously as forecast before calming in Northern California, where PG&Electric faced hostility and second-guessing over its widespread shutoffs.
Governor Gavin Newsom criticized PG&E and ordinary customers complained about the inconveniences caused by the unprecedented blackouts that began midweek.
PG&E, though, suggested it was already seeing the wisdom of its decision borne out as gusts topping 77mph raked the San Francisco Bay Area amid a bout of dry, windy weather.
'We have found multiple cases of damage or hazards' caused by heavy winds, including fallen branches that came in contact with overhead lines,' said Sumeet Singh, a vice president for the utility company. 'If they were energized, they could've ignited.'
Aldea said of her Mardis Sr.'s (left) death: 'He’ll never see my kids get married, he’ll never see his grandchildren...Something got taken away from me that I can never get back'
The fire, known as the Saddleridge Fire, broke out after 9pm on Thursday in Sylmar, north of Los Angeles. Pictured: A helicopter drops water to help fight flames as the Saddleridge Fire in the Porter Ranch section of Los Angeles on Friday
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