Six Apartments Burn in Calif. Firefighter Injured

March 26--ALAMEDA -- A firefighter was injured early Tuesday morning after a blaze broke out and damaged six apartments and two businesses in a three-story building on Park Street, fire officials said.

The Alameda firefighter suffered a shoulder injury during the blaze that displaced at least a half-dozen residents. He was taken to a hospital to be treated, authorities said.

Crews were called at 2:37 a.m. to the building at 1203 Park Street, near San Jose Avenue, said Alameda fire Capt. Jim Colburn. When firefighters arrived, the second and third floors of the building were engulfed in flames, Colburn said.

Firefighters had the blaze under control about 4:27 a.m., Colburn said, and The Red Cross responded to the scene to assist at least six displaced residents.

A preliminary investigation revealed the blaze broke out in an apartment on the second floor of the three-story building, Colburn said.

Fire officials estimated the blaze caused at least $250,000 to the building.

Colburn said the two businesses located on the first floor of the building -- Aphrodite's Closet and iSalon -- sustained heavy water damage and it appears most of the apartments above the two businesses were destroyed.

"The entire third floor is destroyed," Colburn said from the scene.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation on Tuesday morning and fire investigators were still at the scene at 8:45 a.m.

Although the fire was contained,

traffic in the area was being diverted to side streets and motorists were being asked to avoid the area.

According to the Alameda Police Department, Park Street is closed at Encinal and Clinton avenues and San Jose Avenue is closed from Park Avenue to Oak Street.

The lane closures are slated to remain in effect until about 10 a.m., police said.

Photographer Laura Oda contributed to this report. Contact Natalie Neysa Alund at 510-293-2469. Follow her at Twitter.com/nataliealund.

Copyright 2013 - The Daily Review, Hayward, Calif.