Fire in Calif. Garage Leaves Three Hurt

May 6, 2013
A San Jose firefighter was taken to the hospital for a checkup.

May 06--SAN JOSE -- Three people were injured early this morning after a fire broke out in the garage of a large apartment complex, according to the fire department.

The blaze was contained to a concrete garage area of a large apartment complex located at 420 Sands Drive, according to San Jose fire Capt. Rob Brown. Brown estimated that 150 to 200 people evacuated on their own after smoke alarms went off just before 4 a.m.

Two residents were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, according to San Jose fire Capt. Rob Brown. One San Jose firefighters had an undisclosed medical complaint after the blaze was knocked down and was also taken to the hospital.

Firefighters responded to the apartment complex after receiving reports of fire coming from the ground-level parking garage of the multi-level apartment complex located near Curtner Avenue, Brown said. The apartments are situated above the garage.

Two vehicles were damaged by the fire, Brown said. Before firefighters arrived, one of the vehicles had been driven out of the garage while on fire.

"The residents did a good job of evacuating and the sprinkler system activated and did a good job assisting," Brown said.

The blaze was isolated to the garage area, Brown said.

All of the residents have been allowed back into their apartments.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Contact Mark Gomez at 408-920-5869. Follow him on Twitter @MarkMgomez

Copyright 2013 - San Jose Mercury News

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