In a display of extraordinary courage, two brothers from Glendale, California, became unlikely heroes when they rushed into a burning care home to save elderly residents. The incident, which occurred on Friday, September 12, 2026, highlighted the bravery of the young men and the critical need for quick action in emergencies.
The fire broke out at an assisted living facility located in the 1800 block of Mountain Street. The blaze quickly engulfed the building, putting the lives of six elderly residents and two nurses at risk. The Glendale Fire Department was alerted to the emergency, but before they arrived, the brothers had already sprung into action.
The Heroes of Mountain Street
Alex Bazinyan, 20, and his younger brother Narek, 15, were nearby when the fire started. Alex recounted the harrowing moment he first noticed the flames: “I ran outside and saw the nurse outside screaming for help.” Narek initially tried to combat the fire with a hose, but the flames only grew more intense, and the cries for help became louder.
Realizing the urgency of the situation, the brothers decided to enter the burning building. Inside, they found eight people, including the two nurses who were struggling to evacuate the elderly residents. Alex described the scene: “I went inside this big room and saw all these old people on the floor with catheters. Some people were injured, with blood on their legs. We just took everybody out one by one.”
With the help of two other neighbors, all six seniors were safely evacuated to the front lawn before the fire crews arrived. The rescue mission was fraught with danger, as Alex heard an explosion right after pulling the last person out of the home. Narek recalled the chaos: “There was smoke everywhere. I was pretty much blinded by the smoke.”
The Aftermath and Investigation
The Glendale Fire Department arrived on the scene and quickly extinguished the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to other houses. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Fire Chief Jeff Brooks suggested that an oxygen tank explosion might have triggered the blaze. The home sustained extensive damage, including a partial roof collapse, and was subsequently red-tagged as uninhabitable.
Seven people, including the brothers and the residents, were taken to the hospital as a precaution. Fortunately, all are expected to recover from their minor injuries. The fire department is now working with organizations to help the displaced victims find temporary housing.
State records indicate that the facility had passed its safety compliance checks in March, with all smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and fire drill records up to date. Despite this, the incident has raised questions about the safety measures in place for such facilities.
A Community’s Tight-Knit Response
The brothers’ actions were praised by the community, highlighting the importance of quick thinking and bravery in emergencies. Alex explained their motivation: “It’s that instinct of whenever you see people in need, you want to help them out. You don’t really think about who it is. We have a really tight-knit community here.”
This incident is not the first time a Glendale senior care facility has faced scrutiny. In October 2024, a man was arrested for identity theft and elder financial abuse at a different local nursing facility, drawing attention to the vulnerabilities of elderly residents in such settings.
As the community comes to terms with the aftermath of the fire, the bravery of the Bazinyan brothers serves as a reminder of the power of community and the importance of acting swiftly in times of crisis.
