Brian Jackson Injured in Riverside Apartment Fire

Brian Jackson May Lose Both Legs After Helping a Pregnant Woman Escape a Riverside Apartment Fire

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA (October 30, 2026) – A grandfather identified as Brian Jackson suffered severe injuries in an apartment fire and explosion in downtown Riverside.

Riverside County officials are saying that the fire occurred around 2:16 a.m. on Thursday, September 17. Brian Jackson was visiting a friend at an apartment building in the 3400 block of 5th Street when, according to Jackson, rechargeable batteries began popping and throwing sparks before one of them exploded.

Smoke and flames quickly filled the second-story unit, and Jackson ran to another room, where he found a woman who was eight months pregnant preparing to jump from a window. He convinced her not to jump and told her he would climb out first so he could help her down.

As Jackson lowered himself from the window, another explosion went off and he fell, breaking both of his legs and both of his ankles. Firefighters arrived to find the unit fully engulfed, rescued residents hanging from the windows of an adjacent apartment, and brought the pregnant woman to safety.

Brian Jackson was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery, and doctors have warned that he may lose both legs. Five civilians and one firefighter were hospitalized, three dogs died, and four adults were displaced, according to the Riverside Fire Department.

Fire officials have not released a cause, and the family’s account of a battery explosion has not been independently confirmed. Jackson’s stepdaughters have started a GoFundMe to help cover his surgeries, hospital care, and rehabilitation.

Lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and scooters have become a national fire concern, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission proposed a mandatory battery safety standard in June 2026 after concluding that voluntary standards fall short. California’s SB 1271 began requiring e-bike batteries and chargers sold in the state to be tested by accredited laboratories on January 1, 2026. Whether any battery involved was certified, and where it came from, are open questions. Residents may also ask whether the building had working smoke alarms and safe escape routes from upper floors.

Liability for Riverside Apartment Fires

Under California Civil Code Section 1714, everyone is responsible for injuries caused by a failure to use ordinary care in managing their property, a rule that applies to landlords, tenants, and property managers alike. When a defective battery or charger starts a fire, its manufacturer, distributor, and seller may face strict product liability even without proof of carelessness. California law also protects people hurt while trying to save others, rather than treating them as having accepted the risk. Several sources of responsibility often come into play after a residential fire:

• Defective Products: A battery, charger, or device that overheats under normal use may expose its manufacturer and sellers to liability.
• Uncertified Equipment: Selling e-bike batteries that skipped required laboratory testing may show a failure to meet California safety standards.
• Smoke Alarms: Landlords must install and maintain working smoke alarms so residents get the earliest possible warning of a fire.
• Escape Routes: Blocked hallways, painted-shut windows, or missing fire escapes can turn a small fire into a deadly one.
• Building Codes: Faulty wiring and overloaded outlets can help a fire start and spread.

Courts have long protected people injured while rescuing others from danger created by someone else’s negligence. In Solgaard v. Guy F. Atkinson Co., decided in 1971, the California Supreme Court considered a doctor who slipped and injured his back while climbing down a steep embankment to reach two construction workers trapped by a landslide. The court held that rescuers may recover from the party whose negligence created the peril unless the rescuer acted rashly or recklessly, reasoning that rescuers are always foreseeable when someone is placed in danger. The decision means a person who steps in to help during an emergency is not left without recourse simply because they chose to act. It also places the burden on the responsible party to prove any claim that a rescuer behaved recklessly.

Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Risks in the Home

Rechargeable batteries power everything from phones to scooters, but the large packs used in e-bikes and e-scooters carry far more energy. From 2019 through 2023, the CPSC identified 227 incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in micromobility products, associated with 39 deaths and 181 injuries. These batteries can fail violently, releasing flames and toxic smoke within seconds. In apartment buildings, one failing battery can endanger everyone nearby. The CPSC recommends several safe-use habits that can lower the risk:

• Supervise Charging: Stay present while devices charge and never leave them charging overnight while you sleep.
• Original Chargers: Use only the charger that came with the device, since mismatched chargers can overheat battery cells.
• Certified Batteries: Look for recognized safety certification when buying an e-bike, scooter, or replacement battery.
• Warning Signs: Stop using any battery that swells, leaks, smells unusual, or feels hot to the touch.
• Safe Storage: Keep devices away from doorways and hallways so a battery fire cannot block the only way out.

Battery fires are not only a consumer issue but a building safety issue that affects everyone under the same roof. Landlords, retailers, and manufacturers all have a role in keeping unsafe products out of homes and making sure residents can escape when something goes wrong. People hurt in these fires often face long recoveries involving surgery, rehabilitation, and months away from work. Injured victims may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost wages, and the disruption to their daily lives.

Investigating Apartment Fires in Riverside

We at Feher Law wish a full and speedy recovery to Brian Jackson. We hope the investigation into this fire brings accountability and leads to changes that keep other families from facing a similar ordeal. This fire raises serious safety concerns about the rechargeable batteries now found in so many homes. What started this fire, and was any battery involved ever tested and certified to meet California safety standards?

Have you or a loved one been hurt in an apartment fire or battery explosion in Riverside or elsewhere in the Inland Empire? California law protects people injured by unsafe products and poorly maintained properties, including those hurt while trying to help someone else. After a fire, the damaged unit is often cleaned out or rebuilt quickly, and the device that started it can disappear along with the debris. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from fire department reports and product purchase records to building maintenance logs and witness accounts. If you have questions about your rights or would like a free, independent investigation, we’re here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.