A family in California is asking for support as a father of three goes through an incredibly difficult time. The reportedly transient man was found literally on fire in a shopping mall parking lot in Victorville. An investigation into the fire is still ongoing by multiple law enforcement agencies, but it is believed the fire wasn’t set on purpose. As bystanders attempted to help the man, the fire swallowed him, causing major damage to his body.
Now, he is in the hospital where he remains in critical condition and is undergoing multiple surgeries to give him a chance at survival. Still, the road to recovery will be long and definitely not easy.
Police believe the fire was accidental.
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About 7:30 p.m. March 30, 2026, deputies from the Victorville Police Department responded to multiple reports of a 35-year-old transient man “engulfed in flames,” the department shared in a news release. When they arrived, deputies found the man with “severe burns” and airlifted him to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
“Deputies located items consistent with combustible materials and a preliminary determination suggest the fire was accidental,” the release added. “Investigators from the Department’s Arson/Bomb Detail responded to assist with the investigation. A San Bernardino County Arson Investigator conducted a parallel investigation.” The investigation is ongoing, but no additional information will be released.
Video footage of the incident exists.
According to a report from VVNG, the fire took place near a Kohl’s. Video footage shared with the outlet showed the fire burning near an electrical box surrounded by bushes.
Witnesses told VVNG that they believed the area where he was found was a homeless encampment. Several bystanders rushed to the man to assist him, including using a fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames while they waited for help. One witness said the man’s skin was “falling off” as he screamed for help.
The man was later identified by his family.
Although none of the news reports gave the man’s name, a GoFundMe account was started by his family, and he was identified as Joel by his sister-in-law Jenny.
According to the fundraiser, Joel has “third-degree burns over approximately 90% of his body,” and is in critical condition.
“Our family is completely heartbroken. Joel is a father of three, and his children need him. Watching someone you love go through something this devastating is something you can never be prepared for,” Jenny wrote.
“The road ahead is overwhelming,” she continued on the page. “Burn recovery is one of the most difficult journeys a person can go through, both physically and emotionally,” she shared, adding that the recovery could take “months or even years.”
In an update on April 14, Jenny explained that Joel was having surgeries “like every 2 days.”
“At this time, Joel is responding to treatment, but his condition remains critical. His road to recovery will be long and incredibly difficult. He will require ongoing surgeries, skin grafts, specialized wound care, and long-term medical support,” she wrote.
She also explained that his three children are being cared for by family. “Since losing his wife he has been a transient but that doesn’t matter now, what matters right now is that he is fighting for his life and deserves a chance to heal and be there for his children,” she added on the fundraiser.
Anyone with information that could aid this investigation is urged to contact the Victorville Police Station at (760) 241-2911 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call or text “REPORT” to We-Tip at 844-909-3006. Online reporting also is available at https://mobile.catapultems.com/sbcsd/Sites.
