Structure Fire - 1217 Railroad Ave. McKinleyville
Arcata Fire was dispatched to a reported residential fire in a multi-unit apartment complex at 11:52pm, Tuesday evening. When fire crews arrived on scene, they were confronted with heavy fire coming from the front and side windows of the end apartment and rear door. The fire was moving into the attic and threatening the adjacent two apartments. Firefighters forced entry on the adjoining apartment and found the tenant was not home. They quickly pulled ceilings and used a hose line to keep the fire out of the apartment. The other tenants were immediately removed from the end unit and evaluated by Arcata Mad River Ambulance for smoke inhalation. The tenants refused any further treatment.
Firefighters attacked the fire and cut a hole in the roof to release smoke and gases. The original fire apartment was completely destroyed and was vacant at the time of the fire. The adjacent apartment suffered damage to the ceiling and smoke damage throughout. The third apartment received smoke damage only. All personal belongings were saved in the adjoining apartments and no firefighters were hurt.
The cause of the fire was the improper disposable of rags that had been soaked in a combustible liquid of an Oil Based Wood Stain. The owner and employee had just finished staining the wood floors of the house earlier that day. They placed all of the oil soaked rags in a cardboard box in the kitchen that sat on a wooden cabinet. The rags spontaneously combusted that night and started the fire.
Arcata Fire responded with 4 Fire Engines and 19 firefighters. Humboldt County Sheriffs Office assisted with traffic control and Arcata Mad River Ambulance stood by. PG&E shutoff the utilities as they were compromised by the fire as it had moved into the attic. The fire displaced three occupants who stayed with friends.
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