Apartment Fire Hospitalizes Three People
Three people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and two other people were displaced from the adjoining apartment rooms following a two-story fire on Forest Avenue on September 22.
Alameda County Fire responded to a call just before 2 p.m. Witnesses said flames were shooting out of the balcony of a second-story unit at the Forest Villas near Clara Lee Lane. Video of the event shows flames leaping 10 feet into the air on the balcony facing the street.
The smoke could be seen as far away as the Castro Valley BART Station.
Two adults and one elderly person went to a local hospital. Alameda County Fire spokesperson Cheryl Hurd said there was no update on the residents’ status as of press time. The displaced residents received help from the Red Cross. No other injuries were reported.
Five fire engines, a ladder truck, a rescue vehicle, and two fire specialty units were sent to the apartment. Firefighters quickly dealt with the flames, chopping holes in the roof to release the smoke and dousing the fire from underneath. Crews contained the blaze to only the Forest Villas building. They continued to monitor the site for hotspots well into the afternoon.
The source of the fire is unknown. Neighbors familiar with the layout of the building said it likely started in the kitchen. An official investigation has not been announced.
The complex has 12 units overall. Each 900-square-foot unit contains two bedrooms and one bathroom.