County Firefighters Rescue Elderly Residents Trapped In Burning Apartment

Two elderly people trapped in an apartment building were rescued via ladder by firefighters early Sunday during a two-alarm fire near Capitola, according to the Central Fire Protection District of Santa Cruz County.

At 4:16 a.m. Sunday, the Santa Cruz Regional 911 center received multiple emergency calls about an apartment fire with people trapped inside at 1360 30th Ave. in the Live Oak area of unincorporated Santa Cruz County, district spokesman Mike DeMars said.

Firefighters were dispatched to the blaze and a ladder was extended to the second-floor window of the building, where firefighters reached the two elderly residents and brought them down to safety, DeMars said.

The fire went to a second alarm and other fire agencies responded, including the Santa Cruz Fire Department, Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District, Scotts Valley Fire Protection District and Cal Fire, according to DeMars.

Fire crews contained the blaze within 23 minutes of the first engines on scene and had it under control about 22 minutes later, DeMars said.

One firefighter was treated for minor injuries suffered while battling the blaze, he said. Damage to the building was isolated to two apartments and the American Red Cross was sent to the scene to offer alternative housing for residents of both units, DeMars said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

-Bay City News