Sep 6, 2008 9:49 pm US/Pacific
Sacramento Residents Escape Fast-Moving Fire
Reporting
Ron Jones
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
A fire at a Sacramento apartment building is under investigation tonight after residents were chased from their homes. Investigators say there is one factor that may have saved lives.
Residents in the apartment complex in the 7600 block of Madison Avenue made it out just in time.
"We had many heavy flames and smoke showing from the occupancy," said Randall Hein, Sacramento Metro Fire Dept.
When firefighters arrived people were just clearing out. Those who made it out are devastated, because not everything made it out safe.
"We had no injuries on this incident. We did have one domestic pet that did succumb to fire and smoke," said Hein.
Fire officials say what made the difference today was that when they arrived, they heard smoke detectors blaring. And those detectors may have saved many lives today, because of the speed of the fire.
"The fire most likely started on the patio and then it moved to the attic," said Hein.
But the question remains: How did this one start in the first place?
"Currently the fire's under investigation," said Hein.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
