Fire at Sacramento apartment complex sends 2 to hospital
ARDEN-ARCADE - Two people were transported to the hospital and several others are displaced after a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Arden-Arcade on Saturday evening.
The fire broke out at an apartment complex on the 2400 block of Marconi Avenue around 8:15 p.m. Crews found heavy fire in three units on the first floor.
Firefighters said 20 were damaged, including three with heavy damage. They said some were boarded up and occupied.
One person suffered smoke inhalation and another fell down the stairs trying to escape the fire. Both were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Crews said the boarded-up units created a challenge in knocking down the fire. They had to force their way into some units to make sure those who were inside were evacuated.
Firefighters said Sunday that the origin of the fire was a living room in a downstairs apartment. They said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but they are not ruling out human-caused.
They added several units were occupied by people without legal authorization or a rental agreement.
On Feb. 8, 2023, firefighters canvassed the location and installed 38 smoke alarms in 20 units. Two alarms were in the apartment of one person transported to the hospital and two more were in the apartment where the fire originated.
"This canvas potentially saved countless lives with early evacuation warnings," Sac Metro said in a post on X.
The American Red Cross is working with people who were displaced to provide food, clothing and shelter.