Firefighters, Officer Among 9 Injured in City Heights Apartment Fire

SAN DIEGO, CA — Seven people were displaced and nine people were injured, including a police officer and two firefighters, when a two-alarm fire broke out early Tuesday at a City Heights apartment building.

The blaze reported at 3:18 a.m. at 4165 Menlo Avenue was caused by a resident who was smoking while using an oxygen tank, according to Lee Swanson, spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Smoke and fire were billowing from a third-floor apartment when the first crews arrived on scene, prompting them to quickly call for a second alarm.

The fire in the three-story, 36-unit building that houses 41 disabled people was knocked down in less than 20 minutes, the spokesman said.

"Many of the residents needed assistance from firefighters and police officers to evacuate," Swanson said.

Of approximately 60 firefighters on hand to extinguish the blaze, two were taken to hospitals: one who suffered a minor burn and the other for treatment of smoke inhalation. A police officer suffered smoke inhalation and was also taken to a hospital.

Medics had to evacuate nine people from their residences, three of whom were taken to hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation. Another three residents were treated by medics on scene but declined to go to the hospital, Swanson said.

Red Cross assisted the displaced residents — plus two dogs and a cat — with temporary housing.

The fire resulted in $300,000 in damages to the building and $25,000 to its contents, according to Swanson.The blaze was confined to one apartment, although there was smoke damage to two other units. Four additional units had either broken windows or water damage, he said.

(Photo: San Diego Fire-Rescue via Twitter)