RIVERSIDE – Firefighters, who responded to multiple reports of an early-morning vehicle fire with a victim reportedly trapped inside the burning car, battled a blaze to save an unlikely victim Sunday morning, April 30.

The fire, which destroyed the car and damaged the front of a residence, happened on the 17600 block of Morning Sun Court in the unincorporated community of Lake Hills near Riverside. The community is north of Lake Matthews and south of the city of Riverside

The “victim” – who was later determined to be a life-size Darth Vader mannequin – survived the fire thanks to the firefighters’ efforts.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Firefighters responded to the fire about 3:36 a.m., after Riverside County emergency dispatchers received several 911 calls from citizens reporting what they believed was a fire involving a trapped victim.

When firefighters arrived at the location, they reported finding a vehicle’s engine compartment fully engulfed in flames. The car was described as a newer, black BMW.

In spite of the growing blaze, which was beginning to extend to the garage and front of the residence, firefighters could see a “victim” sitting motionless in the passenger seat of the car. The victim was buckled into the seat and unresponsive.

Firefighters began an immediate, aggressive attack on the fire, working hard to protect the apparent victim and the residence.

Firefighters managed to quickly knock down the flames and moved in to provide medical aid to the trapped victim.

Firefighters were somewhat surprised and relieved when they soon determined the “victim” was a Darth Vader mannequin.

The owner of the highly detailed and realistic looking Darth Vader mannequin later lauded the firefighters, saying his mannequin had survived the fire uninjured, thanks to the firefighter’s efforts.

The grateful owner did not explain why he had the mannequin buckled into the passenger seat of his car.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

The fire, that began in the car’s engine compartment, extended to the residence. Loudlabs News photo Firefighters quickly knocked down the car fire. Loudlabs News photo The BMW was destroyed by the fire. Loudlabs News photo The “trapped victim” sits inside the destroyed BMW. Loudlabs News photo The victim was later determined to be a life-size Darth Vader mannequin. Loudlabs News photo The Darth Vader mannequin survived the fire uninjured, thanks to firefighter’s efforts. Loudlabs News photo The owner of the life-size mannequin later lauded firefighter’s efforts. Loudlabs News photo Darth Vader poses for a photo after the fire was extinguished. Loudlabs News photo The cause of the fire is under investigation. Loudlabs News photo

Contact the writer: trevor.rcns@gmail.com

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes. Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.

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