At approximently 3:00 am Sunday, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded to a 3-alarm fire at an apartment complex in the City of Pittsburg.
The fire was located at the Woodland Hills Apartments in the 200 block of W Buchanan. The fire started within a unit of a 16-unit apartment building. Flames spread across multiple units and out the roof. The fire was upgraded to a 2-alarm fire.
A short time later, Contra Costa County Fire ultimately upgraded the response to a 3-alarm fire.
Images by Raquel Ramirez & Amber Yankee
UPDATE
The fire was determined to be caused by unattended cooking on a stove. A total of 16 units were displaced and received assistance from Red Cross.
Update #2: Contra Costa County Fire Incident Report
- DATE: 8/18/24
- TIME OF ALARM: 02:59:22 AM
- TYPE OF ALARM: Multi-Family Residential Structure Fire
- LOCATION: 219 W. Buchanan Rd., Pittsburg
- RESPONSE: 11 Engines, 4 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Breathing Support, 4 Battalion Chiefs, 1 Safety Officer, 1 District Chief
- ASSISTING AGENCIES: AMR, Pittsburg PD, PGE
- TOTAL FIRE PERSONNEL AT SCENE: 51
Contra Costa County Fire responded to a report of a structure fire at the Woodland Hills Apartments in Pittsburg. The fire was initially reported as a kitchen fire that was spreading and that there were occupants jumping out of second story windows. Due to the dispatch information and possible need for additional resources, E85 upgraded the incident to a 2nd alarm while enroute. E85 arrived on scene with BC8. BC8 established IC which allowed E85 to immediately initiate a fire attack. The fire had already spread from the initial unit involved to adjoining units including the second floor and attic. E85 was able to stretch a line and get water on the fire as T84 arrived.
In coordination with E85, T84 was able to complete a primary search of the fire area to ensure that all residents were out of the apartments. Once it was determined that the residents were out of the apartments in the immediate fire area, crews started working to put out the fire and checked the remaining twelve units in the fire building.
Due to the size of the fire, the common attic which facilitated fire spread, and to ensure proper span of control, the incident was broken down into divisions and a third alarm was requested. As crews worked to put out the fire, there was a partial roof collapse over the 2 apartments where the fire originated. All resources were removed from the two affected apartments and continued suppression operations from the exterior in a defensive manner. Crews in other divisions continued to attack the fire aggressively from the interior. Crews got the fire under control and an aerial master stream was used to overhaul specific areas of the attic space and building that were difficult to access or reach due to the building being compromised.
There were no civilian injuries and one firefighter reported a minor leg injury. Red Cross dispatched a team to assist with the needs of the residents of the 16 units of the fire building.
Jim Brooks, Battalion Chief
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