Crime & Safety

Fire Damages Apartment Building in San Pablo

Fire officials said the blaze highlights the importance of having working smoke detectors.

A fire damaged two apartments in San Pablo on Monday afternoon, but a smoke alarm helped prevent any injuries, Contra Costa County fire officials said Tuesday.

The fire was reported at about 12:25 p.m. Monday at 1414 Amador St., a two-story, two-unit apartment building, fire officials said.

The blaze was reported by the upstairs neighbor, who said he was asleep but had been awakened by the sound of the smoke alarm in the apartment below, according to fire officials.

Firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze in less than 10 minutes, isolating it to one room of the lower unit. Fire investigators estimated the damage at $10,000.

The two occupants of the downstairs unit, an adult and a juvenile, were not home at the time the fire started. They were displaced, and have received temporary housing assistance from the American Red Cross.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but appears to be accidental, according to fire officials.

Authorities said the incident highlights the importance of smoke alarms. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District urges all residents to have at least one properly maintained smoke alarm on each level of their home, and offers free smoke alarm installations.

More information about smoke alarms can be found on the district's website at www.cccfpd.org.

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