An apartment fire that broke out around 6:30am this morning on the first story of an apartment building near the intersection of Broadway and Atlantic Avenue was responded to and extinguished by the Long Beach Fire Department without serious injuries, although one person was treated on scene for smoke inhalation. The fire was kept from spreading to the apartment building’s other floors thanks to quick work.
Firefighters also discovered what they are calling “pack rat conditions” within the apartment that thankfully did not block evacuation routes, but posed a serious fire hazard, according to the official Long Beach Fire Department blog (click here).
LBFD Public Information officer Frank Hayes writes on the blog:
“Pack Rat” conditions were found in the apartment building by advancing fire crews that blocked the rear egress door. Fortunately this did not hamper escape routes of the residents or trap any firefighters in the engulfed unit. These conditions could have had deadly consequences, in addition to this it is unknown if any smoke detectors were in “proper working order” to alert the residents of the fire.
The Arson Bureau is currently investigating the cause of the blaze. Little damage to the building occurred but resident of the apartment have been displaced.