BELMONT, Calif. (AP) -- Six firefighters suffered burns and chest pains fighting a three-alarm blaze that gutted an apartment, charred walls and burned staircases, authorities said Tuesday.
Three firefighters were taken to the hospital, some suffering from overexertion, said Richard Price, a San Mateo County battalion chief.
Price described the injuries as minor and said all three firefighters are expected to fully recover. A resident was also taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
''It was a pretty physical fight,'' Price said of the blaze, which displaced 35 residents.
An apartment manager called firefighters to the 18-unit building at 11:30 a.m. When crews arrived, the blaze had spread. The older building had no sprinkler system, Price said.
Price said six units were damaged and the Red Cross is helping displaced residents.
The fire was under control in an hour.
