CA Apartment Complex Under Construction 4-Alarm Fire

Here's the official statement from the Alhambra Fire Department on that suspicious fire that burned down an under-construction condo project in 3rd Street on November 18, 2008. On Tuesday evening at approximately 10:44 p.m. Members of the Alhambra Fire Department responded to 101 North Third Street for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival to the scene, Fire Personnel encountered a three (3) story condominium complex well involved in fire. The condominium complex was under construction and constructed of heavy timber.

An aggressive attack was initiated to extinguish the fire, but soon escalated to a 4th alarm fire. Fire agencies from the cities of Monterey Park, San Marino, San Gabriel, Arcadia, South Pasadena, Pasadena, and Glendale responded to the fire location to assist Alhambra Firefighters with suppressing the fire.

The blaze quickly escalated to a four-alarm fire as 13 engine companies, four truck companies and four rescue ambulances responded to the scene. About 7000 people in the area lost electricity because of the fire, according to John Kabala, assistant Alhambra Fire Chief.
Due to intensity and fire movement nearby occupied dwellings became compromised and sustained fire damage.

Evacuations were conducted by members of the Alhambra Police and Fire Department. Approximately 7,000 residents were without electrical power for close to 3 hours and numerous residents were evacuated from a five (5) story retirement facility located at 15 North Third Street. Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation and were treated on scene by Alhambra Fire Department Paramedics.

Buildings adjacent to and behind the condominium site also sustained damage. Windows and a garage behind the fire site were damaged from the heat of the fire alone, and the window blinds inside an apartment on the 100 block of North Fourth Street melted.

"The heat was so hot that the residential sprinklers that were inside were activated," Kabala said. "There was no fire. Just heat."

The heat also cracked several car windshields nearby and melted plastic light covers and bumpers. A crew was on scene Wednesday afternoon to fix the cracked windshield and shattered window of a fire engine parked in front of the fire site.

Burke Manor, a nearby senior residential facility with about 200 residents, was evacuated. Two residents at that facility were treated for smoke inhalation, Kabala said.

Officials initially believed a security guard was missing when the blaze broke out but subsequently learned that no guard was on duty, Kabala said.

The National Response Team (NRT) from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and ATF special agents from the Los Angeles Field Division, have entered into the investigation of a large structure fire in Alhambra at the request of the Alhambra Fire Department. The fire occurred at a three-story apartment complex on Nov. 18 at approximately 10:45 p.m. The complex, which was under construction, was located at 101 North 3rd Street. Damages to the complex and surrounding structures are estimated $4.5 million.