6-Alarm Fire In Redwood City Destroys Apartment Building
REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF) -- One person remained unaccounted for following a six-alarm apartment building fire in Redwood City that injured 21 people Sunday morning, according to a fire official.
Firefighters do not know whether the missing resident remains inside the building or left and reconnected with family without checking in with anyone, Fire Marshall James Palisi said Sunday evening.
"We just don't know," Palisi said. "But we will be looking for him."
The fire, reported shortly before 2 a.m. at the 72-unit Hallmark House Apartments at 531 Woodside Road, displaced around 97 people and injured 21, Redwood City spokesman Malcolm Smith said.
Three of those injured were firefighters. However, all of the injuries were mild to moderate in severity, Smith said.
The fire was under control Sunday evening but firefighters and equipment remain on site. Smith said firefighters are expected to stay overnight and an investigation into the fire's cause will not begin until Monday morning.
Woodside Road was closed in both directions from Bonita Avenue to Hess Avenue due to the fire, and is currently expected to reopen around midnight Sunday, Smith said.
The Red Cross has opened an overnight shelter expected to serve more than 40 people at the National Guard Armory at 939 Velota Road in Redwood City. Volunteers and staff there will provide shelter, prescription medicine replacement and emotional support.
Those affected by the fire and in need of help should go to the armory or call 1 (888) 4-HELP-BAY.
Fire crews arriving on the scene this morning found heavy flames and smoke coming from the building and many residents standing on balconies waiting to be rescued, Redwood City Fire Marshal James Palisi said earlier Sunday.
Firefighters climbed ladders and entered burning homes to rescue the trapped residents and helped 16 people who were suffering from "minor to moderate injuries" get to local hospitals, Palisi said.
More than 100 firefighters with 20 engines and seven ladder trucks responded to the disaster, Smith said.
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