Fire Damages Calif. Apartment

Just before 10:30 a.m, units from the Long Beach Fire Department responded to 4406 Greenmeadow Road for an apartment fire.

The crew of  Engine 7  found a second floor apartment well involved in fire.  Fire crews immediately launched an aggressive interior assault..  Firefighters from Truck 7 used chainsaws to open the roof over the fire in an effort to remove heat and chocking smoke from the involved unit and the adjacent hallway.

 The blaze was brought under control within 15 minutes.  Initial companies performed a diligent search of the entire second floor for residents who may have been overcome by the intensity of the flames. 

A fire in a center-hallway style apartment building such as this poses a unique set of challenges to firefighters.  Any heat and smoke that does not exit the building through the windows is channeled into the hallways possibly trapping residents attempting to flee the fire.

 Fortunately, all 10 residents managed to escape the burning building without injury.  The cause of this fire is currently under investigation.  There is no immediate damage estimate. 

More than 30 Long Beach firefighters responded to this incident as well as a fire crew from LA County fire.