The blaze injured one woman, and forced residents to flee into the bitterly cold night.
According to Acting Chief Fire Marshal Braulio Villegas, the fire originated on the first floor in apartment "B1" of the Myrtle Place apartments. The initial call went out at 2:38 a.m. and went to three alarms before the fire was brought under control at 4:10 a.m.The apartment consists of 8 units, 7 were occupied and 1 was vacant. All 9 residents were relocated to area hotels and apartments by the Red Cross and Apartment manager.
There were two minor injuries reported. One tenant, a 58-year-old woman, was transported to an area hospital for minor smoke inhalation and has been released and one firefighter was treated on scene for a minor injury sustained when his foot went through the floor.
There was extensive damage to apartment B1 and the above apartment.
The building was deemed unsafe to live in and it is unclear when tenets will be able to go back to their apartments.
The fire chief says there were no fatalities in this fire because of working smoke detectors and he reports one tenet woke up from the detector and began knocking on the doors of other tenets.
Firefighters had to use ladders in the nearly two-feet of snow to reach the upper floors, to rescue several people trapped on balconies.
Officials have not yet determined what caused the fire, but one resident told Action News that burning candles may be the prime suspect.
The resident said candles were aparently being used for light and some warmth after the complex lost power at about 9:30 Wednesday night.
The complex lost power when tree branches, weighed down by snow, snapped utility lines and knocked out the lights and heat.
The Red Cross is finding temporary shelter for the victims.
