Crews Knock Down Two-Alarm Apartment Fire In Sunnyvale
SUNNYVALE (CBS SF) -- A two-alarm fire at a Sunnyvale apartment complex was knocked down Friday afternoon after it sent two people to the hospital, according to authorities.
Dozens of people may be left homeless as a result of the fire.
Crews responded to a report of a fire at Twin Pines Manor Apartments at 1066 Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road shortly before 1 p.m., department Capt. Shawn Ahearn said.
Fire victims were pushed to their balconies by heavy smoke as they waited until firefighters could rescue them.
"When I saw that door open and the black flames coming out, I told my girls, 'Let's go!' I didn't take nothing with me," said fire victim Alice Larimore. "I had you, I had jewelry box with gold jewelry and I left it there. I just got my girls and I said, 'Come on, let's go!'"
Larimore said the fire that has likely left them and dozens of their neighbors homeless started in the apartment across from them.
The Larimores were able to run out of the building, but many said the heavy smoke that filled their hallway forced them back into their apartments and onto their balconies until firefighters could rescue them.
"And they said 'No, go out through the balcony,'" said fire victim Marshall Childs. "So they brought a ladder around and I just went down the ladder."
"So they rescued people off their balconies and then fire crews started doing a primary search the building looking for other residents that may be stuck inside," Sunnyvale Fire Captain Shawn Ahearn.
Northbound Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road was blocked between Fremont and Remington avenues, according to Ahearn.
The blaze was under control around 3:20 p.m. and crews remained on scene to put out any hot spots, he said.
Firefighters rescued two adults who were sent to the hospital, according to Ahearn. One suffered from smoke inhalation, the other from burns. An update on their conditions was not immediately available.
No other injuries were reported.
About 30 to 50 residents were evacuated from the complex and the American Red Cross have arrived on scene to assist them, he said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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