County Fire Battles Three Home and Apartment Blazes
April 19, 2024: 21000 Block Hobert St./Castro Valley. A two-story apartment building. Three adults displaced. No injuries reported. Cause under iinvestigation.
Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) responded to and extinguished three separate fires in the span of eight days last month. Officials said no serious injuries were reported, and all three fires are under investigation.
The first fire was on April 12 at 9:41 p.m. at a home at the 15000-block of Fleming Street in San Leandro. Fire officials say the fire started in the back of the house and then moved into the home.
“Thankfully, only one person suffered from smoke inhalation and was taken to a local hospital,” said ACFD spokesperson Cheryl Hurd. “Two families were displaced, but our crews extinguished the fire, including multiple exposures, in under 45 minutes with no injuries.”
On April 19 at 2:52 p.m., fire crews responded to an alarm at the 21000 block of Hobert Street in Castro Valley for a fire at a two-story apartment building. A total of 21 firefighters contained the fire in less than 20 minutes. Three adults were displaced, but no injuries were reported.
On April 20 at 11:19 p.m., a three-story apartment in the 2200 block of Miramar Avenue caught fire. Hurd said a second alarm crew was called because of the fire's complexity. Two adults and one juvenile were displaced. One adult was transported to the hospital due to respiratory problems.
While no one was seriously injured, the American Red Cross reminds residents that if a fire starts in your home you may have as little as two minutes to escape.
According to the Red Cross website, “During a fire, early warning from a working smoke alarm plus a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.”
The Red Cross also suggests the following tips for fire safety.
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
Test smoke alarms every month. If they’re not working, change the batteries.
Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.
If a fire occurs in your home, get out, stay out, and call for help.