A Prop. 50 canvasser prevents a Saturday morning house fire in Seaside.

Seaside resident Jonathan Ahmadi, who's also an elected official serving on the Monterey Peninsula Airport District board, was out knocking on doors in Seaside on Saturday, Oct. 18 near Trinity Park. 

Ahmadi had a list of 50 doors he had set out to knock on that morning, encouraging residents to get out and vote for Proposition 50, the redistricting ballot measure intended to reduce the number of Republican-leaning congressional districts in an effort to counteract aggressive gerrymandering by Republicans in Texas and elsewhere in their bid to retain control of the House.  

Just before 11:30am, Ahmadi says he approached the last door of the 50 on his list—at 430 Trinity Ave. in Seaside, near City Hall—when heard a smoke alarm. As he got closer, he could smell something burning, so he called out repeatedly to see if anyone was home. 

"At that point, I’m worried someone inside may be in danger," he says. 

After around 30 seconds passed, Ahmadi called 911, and he says police were there in less than two minutes and firefighters came two minutes later. They then quickly broke down the door and came out of the house with a charred pot, Ahmadi says. The resident was not home.

Seaside Fire Chief Paul Blaha says a report hasn't yet been written up but Ahmadi's account is accurate.