Apartment Fire Injures One, Displaces 36 in Rodeo Fire this Morning

RODEO, CA- A woman was injured and 36 people were displaced when a fire broke out in an apartment packed with papers and other belongings in Rodeo this morning, the area's fire chief said.

The fire was reported at 9:10 a.m. at a 20-unit apartment building at 601 San Pablo Ave., Rodeo-Hercules Fire District Chief Charles Hanley said. When firefighters arrived, they found smoke coming from a first-floor apartment and a fire burning inside.

They also found a woman suffering smoke inhalation and pulled her from the apartment. She was taken to a hospital but Hanley did not immediately know the extent of her injuries. It took about an hour for crews to control the fire, which spread to adjacent units and the building's attic through the walls.

Four units were damaged by smoke, fire and water; 36 residents were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

The apartment where the blaze started was packed with papers and other personal belongings, which made it difficult to access and helped the fire spread quickly, Hanley said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters rescued several birds and a cat from one of the adjacent apartments, but another cat was found dead just outside the apartment, Hanley said.

Firefighters from the Rodeo-Hercules district were assisted by firefighters from Pinole, Crockett, Moraga, El Cerrito, Richmond and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

By Bay City News

Photo via Morguefile