SACRAMENTO, Calif. --
Fire crews said a four-alarm blaze that destroyed two buildings in downtown Sacramento on Sunday was one of the most intense blazes they've fought this year.
"I could see flames from the other side," said William Brewer, who escaped the fire.
A firefighter responded to a vacant building fire on the corner of 10th and E streets at about 2:20 a.m. and moments later, it collapsed.
"When we got here, it was well-involved. We had no opportunity to do a search for occupants," said Marc Bentovoja.
The fire then moved to this building next door where it burned a grocery store and several apartment units.
As the smoke started to bust out the windows, there were several families inside who were sound asleep, everyone except 12-year-old Samantha who woke up after her cat irritated her allergies.
"Samantha woke us up just in time to get us out of our house before the flames actually got into it. We managed to get out and escaped with our lives," said Adam Debois.
The Debois family grabbed their new baby and ran to alert others.
"Then, we got all the neighbors out," said Samantha Scatton.
"We went down stairs, knocked on the neighbors' doors," said Adam Debois.
"Her father, Adam, banged on my wall because he knew where I slept on the end of 10th Street in this building next door here," said William Brewer.
Firefighters said they made sure everyone got out and then had another close call.
"Firefighters cleared it of all occupants and then we had a partial collapse in this building," said Marc Bentovoja, with Sac Metro Fire.
Fire crews got out of the way and for several hours, they said they were concerned a homeless person was trapped in the rubble next door.
"As far as we know and what we have been able to gather with talking to people, that someone did live there or somebody was in and out of there," said Bentovoja.
After a search, no victims were found.
Several families lost all of their belongings, but said they owe their lives to 12-year-old hero.
"I sleep like a rock. If it hadn't been for her I don't know what would have happened," Debois said.
Investigators said there is so much rubble to sift through that they may not immediately determine what caused this fire.
KCRA 3 could not reach the building owner for a comment. He was also displaced by the fire.
There is no word yet whether he plans to rebuild.
Copyright 2009 by KCRA.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
