Aug. 18 - BCN -- Contra Costa County's fourth major fire in eight weeks has left 57 Walnut Creek residents displaced and rescue workers feeling exhausted, Red Cross spokeswoman Mila Fairfax said today.
The most recent, four-alarm fire began sometime after 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Broadway Plaza apartment complex at 1170 Lincoln Ave. in downtown Walnut Creek, destroying seven units and heavily damaging 10 more, according to Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokeswoman Emily Hopkins.
Contra Costa County Fire Inspector Bob Davis said firefighters evacuated 38 units, some of which were heavily burned or gutted by flames. The floor in one unit partially collapsed, preventing firefighters from completely controlling the fire until about 10 p.m.
According to Hopkins, a male firefighter and a female resident were taken to the hospital for minor injuries. Hopkins said the firefighter has been released but she had no information today on the woman's condition.
Early this morning, residents were allowed to return to their apartments to gather personal belongings, though according to Fairfax, almost nothing was salvageable from some units.
Animal control officers spent the morning looking for missing pets, Fairfax said. She said she was hopeful because "most of the animals in the fire were cats, and cats have skill in escaping fires. If there is a way for a cat to get out, they will."
Fairfax said residents whose apartments were not damaged would probably be allowed to return home this afternoon.
The Red Cross is making available mental health professionals for fire victims, and Fairfax said two dozen people were waiting to speak with counselors by 10 a.m.
Hopkins said those displaced by the fire should visit the Red Cross service center at Civic Park Community Center, 1375 Civic Drive at North Broadway. It is open until 6 p.m. today.
"This is the fourth major fire in eight weeks in Contra Costa County, so both the first responders and Red Cross volunteers are feeling strained," Fairfax said.
The first of the four apartment fires occurred in Bay Point on June 27. The second happened on July 18 in Concord and the third fire took place in Walnut Creek on Aug. 5.
The cause of Thursday's fire, which caused an estimated $2 million in damage, is under investigation.
For more information on how you can help victims of the fire, contact the Bay Area Red Cross at
www.bayarea-redcross.org or call (415) 427-8000.
