March 04--Thirty one people and two dogs were displaced Monday morning after a three-alarm fire broke out at a 16-unit apartment building in east-central Fresno, causing $500,000 in damage.
The blaze erupted at 8:43 a.m. at the complex near Peach and Olive avenues. The building has a common attic, so the first units to arrive cut into the roof to allow the heat to escape, Fresno Fire Department spokesman Brian Price said.
No one was hurt in the fire, but six units were damaged by flames and smoke and the rest of the units sustained water damage.
It was not known when the building can be reoccupied because there was electrical damage as well. The cause is under investigation.
The American Red Cross is helping residents find temporary shelter, said Katrina Poitras, the agency's emergency services manager.
Yolanda Johnson, who was home with her two children and her boyfriend, George Tate, said she here a "boom" followed by the strong smell of smoke when the fire broke out. Everyone got out safely but the four were waiting in the parking lot several hours later to find out where they would go.
Vicki Francis also was waiting in the lot with her red-nose pit bull, Buffy. She said she would find shelter at a place where she could stay with the dog.
Francis said she was not home when the fire started and Buffy was on the apartment's patio. She said Buffy tried to go back inside the home, likely thinking Francis was home. The dog was rescued by a firefighter.
Buffy was frightened by the flames and excitement and tried to nip her rescuer, but the firefighter's heavy gear prevented him from being injured. When Buffy and her rescuer were clear of the fire, the firefighter put Buffy down and she calmed down, Price said.
"She's my girl," Francis said.
The Central California Animal Disaster Team was on hand to help residents if they needed to shelter for their dogs.
The reporter can be reached at (559) 441-6339, [email protected] or @jimguy27 on Twitter.
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