By Michael Shemtoub, trial attorney, Beverly Law. Updated November 2026.
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Two facts shape a San Bernardino burn case more than most: the main local burn center is run by the county, and the city has had no fire department of its own since 2016. Both are explained below, along with the courthouse and freeway fire risks. For burn degrees and skin grafts, see our burn injury lawyer guide; statewide law is on the California burn injury page.
Burn care for San Bernardino
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, at 400 North Pepper Avenue in Colton, runs the Edward G. Hirschman Burn Center on its second floor. The hospital says the burn center serves four counties (Inyo, San Bernardino, Riverside and Mono), treats patients of all ages and runs an outpatient clinic for patients after discharge (Arrowhead Regional Medical Center fact sheet). The ABA lists it under other burn centers, and the state’s December 2025 list shows it as locally designated for adults (ABA Find a Burn Center; California EMSA burn center list).
| Hospital | City | Burn and trauma status |
|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (Edward G. Hirschman Burn Center) | Colton | Burn center listed by the ABA as another burn center; Level I adult trauma center |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital | Loma Linda | Level I adult and pediatric trauma center |
| UCI Health Regional Burn Center | Orange | ABA-verified, adults and children |
| Los Angeles General Medical Center Regional Burn Center | Los Angeles | ABA-verified, adults and children |
Sources: California EMSA trauma center list, Aug. 2025; ABA directory; UCI Health.
Arrowhead is operated by San Bernardino County and governed by the Board of Supervisors (Arrowhead Regional Medical Center). If a burn case involves care at a county facility or a county employee, the six-month government claim deadline applies (see the table below). If you were moved between hospitals, we ask for the records from each one, because the transfer notes show how serious the burn was and how fast it was treated. Our burn center directory lists all verified California centers.
Where a San Bernardino burn case is filed
The San Bernardino Justice Center at 247 West Third Street serves civil cases (San Bernardino Superior Court, Civil Division). Since December 11, 2023, some civil matters from the areas served by the Rancho Cucamonga and Victorville courthouses have been heard in those courthouses, while the Civil Clerk’s Office and the other civil courtrooms stayed at the Justice Center. The court tells parties to check its Court Access Portal to confirm where a hearing will be held (court press release, Nov. 21, 2023).
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Fire service in San Bernardino
The City of San Bernardino disbanded its own fire department, and the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District took over fire service in the city on July 3, 2016 (ABC7, June 29, 2016). So the fire report for a burn in the city comes from San Bernardino County Fire.
The district’s statistics page lists 50 fire stations and 19,278 square miles in the district. From July 1 through October 31, 2026, it logged 49,114 calls for service, including 334 structure fires, 449 vehicle fires and 515 vegetation fires (San Bernardino County Fire statistics, updated Nov. 1, 2026).
Freeway and freight fires
The I-10, I-15 and I-215 carry freight through San Bernardino to the Inland Empire’s warehouses. Two fires on or near those freeways:
- Devore, I-15. On December 13, 2025, a fiery crash involving two big rigs on the northbound I-15 near Kenwood Avenue in Devore sparked a brush fire. At least one person was injured, and CHP closed the northbound lanes (ABC7).
- Redlands, I-10. On June 5, 2020, a three-alarm fire burned a 600,000-square-foot distribution warehouse on West Lugonia Avenue in Redlands, run by a company that helps Amazon ship extra-large items. About 100 employees got out before crews arrived, no injuries were reported, and CHP closed the westbound I-10 for a time (IECN).
A truck fire case looks at the carrier, the driver, the cargo and the maintenance records, and a warehouse fire case looks at the building’s sprinklers, storage and battery charging. Our vehicle fires page covers crash burns. If you were burned at a warehouse or plant job, a workers’ compensation claim does not stop you from suing a company other than your employer whose negligence caused the burn (Cal. Labor Code § 3852); see our workplace and refinery burns page.
Burns at home
Home is where most burns start: in the American Burn Association’s 2025 summary of burn center admissions, 61% of incidents occurred at private residences (ABA burn incidence fact sheet). The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says even 120°F water can cause third-degree burns after five minutes of contact, and it recommends setting water heaters at 120°F (CPSC Publication 5098). For children, scalds make up 58% of the pediatric cases in the same ABA summary. Our scald burns page explains when a landlord, care home or product maker is responsible.
California rules for a San Bernardino burn claim
| Rule | Law | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue | CCP § 335.1 | Two years from the injury |
| Claim against the City of San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, County Fire or a county hospital | Gov. Code § 911.2 | Written claim within six months |
| Shared fault | Li v. Yellow Cab Co. | Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, not barred |
| Punitive damages | Civ. Code § 3294 | Clear and convincing proof of malice, oppression or fraud |
For car, truck and pedestrian claims in the county, see our San Bernardino County accident lawyer page.
Talk to a San Bernardino burn injury attorney
If you were burned in San Bernardino, Colton, Fontana, Redlands or the High Desert and were treated at Arrowhead or Loma Linda, call Beverly Law at (310) 552-6959 for a free, confidential review in English or Spanish. Keep in mind the six-month claim deadline if the county is involved. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Common questions
Where is the burn center for San Bernardino?
The Edward G. Hirschman Burn Center at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, 400 North Pepper Avenue, Colton. It is designated locally and listed by the ABA as another burn center. The closest ABA-verified centers include UCI Health in Orange and LA General in Los Angeles.
Which hospitals near San Bernardino are Level I trauma centers?
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton and Loma Linda University Medical Center, which is also a Level I pediatric trauma center.
Which court hears a San Bernardino burn lawsuit?
The San Bernardino County Superior Court. The San Bernardino Justice Center at 247 West Third Street handles civil cases, and some civil matters are heard in Rancho Cucamonga and Victorville.
Who writes the fire report in the city of San Bernardino?
San Bernardino County Fire, which took over fire service in the city in 2016.
How long do I have to file?
Generally two years. If the city, the county or a county hospital is involved, a written claim is due within six months.
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Burn injury lawyer — Beverly Law
If you or your child was burned because of someone else in California, Texas and Washington, talk to a burn injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Sources
- arrowheadregional.org/documents/N12452-ARMC-Fact-Sheet-Combined.pdf
- arrowheadregional.org/about-us/
- ameriburn.org/burn-care-team/resources/find-a-burn-center
- emsa.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2025/12/CA-ABA-Verified-and-LEM
- emsa.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2025/08/California-Designated-A
- ucihealth.org/about-us/news/2025/04/burn-program-accreditation
- sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/location/civil-division-san-bernardino-district
- sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/civilexpandstoranchocucamongaandvictor
- abc7.com/post/san-bernardino-disbands-fire-department-county-takes-o
- sbcfire.org/statistics
- abc7.com/post/structures-threatened-fiery-crash-involving-2-big-rigs
- iecn.com/firefighters-battle-three-alarm-blaze-at-distribution-wareh
- ameriburn.org/resources/burn-incidence-fact-sheet/
- cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/5098-Tap-Water-Scalds.pdf
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml
- scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/li-v-yellow-cab-co-27850
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml
Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: November 6, 2026.