Fire guts Atwater apartment building, 14 displaced

Fourteen people lost their homes Wednesday when fire gutted four second-story units of an apartment complex, authorities reported.

There were no injuries, but an infant girl and a woman were treated at the scene by Riggs Ambulance personnel for minor smoke inhalation, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Merced County.

Juanita Tilghman lives downstairs from the apartment where the fire started, at 1155 Willow St. She was opening her windows around 12:30 p.m. when she heard her upstairs neighbor calling for help.

“I heard the lady say call the fire department. I just got everybody out,” Tilghman said. “All I (saw) was smoke coming out the doors and side windows. All I saw was smoke; a lot of thick smoke.”

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeremy Rahn said flames appeared to have sparked on a stove when someone left cooking food unattended.

Capt. John Slate said the fire gutted four units, displaced 14 people and caused about $275,000 in damage to the structure. All the displaced residents will receive housing assistance from the American Red Cross, firefighters said.

Twenty-seven firefighters responded to the scene and managed to extinguish the flames in about 30 minutes. Fire crews saved about $100,000 in property value to the structure because of their quick action, Slate said.

Rahn said a Riggs ambulance crew helped firefighters avoid heat exhaustion, providing water and other assistance.

“It’s not as hot as it typically gets during the summer,” Rahn said, “but with the (equipment) firefighters wear, we have to be mindful of keeping everybody safe and in good condition.”

This story was originally published March 18, 2015 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Fire guts Atwater apartment building, 14 displaced."