The Red Cross is helping residents of an entire apartment building in Fresno left homeless Monday morning by a fire.
The fire started just after 9am in Pamela Moore's apartment at the Peachwood Apartment complex located near Peach and Olive. "We just started hearing everyone say, 'get out, get out, get out.' I just grabbed a picture of my mama and my daddy and came out here," said Moore as she fought back tears while watching firefighters cut a gaping hole in the roof of her apartment to try to slow the fire down.
It took about 50 firefighters 40 minutes to get it under control. Their efforts slowed after flames spread to the attic.
"Six units were directly affected by smoke or fire, but because of here the fire occurred in the attic it damaged the electrical source for the rest of the building," said Fresno Fire Captain Brian Price.
A total of 16 units, 31 people, were left homeless. The property owners and Pacific Gas & Electric will have to work together to get power restored and residents back in their homes.
As for Moore, she is just thankful she escaped with her life and the pictures of her deceased parents and sister, "those mean more to me than anything else in the house."
Fire investigators are still trying to figure out just what started the fire.
Damage is estimated at $500,000.
TXT 24
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