A fast-moving fire tore through a Ukiah apartment complex Friday night, destroying nine units and displacing 37 residents, but miraculously resulting in no injuries or loss of life.
The Ukiah Valley Fire Authority received multiple calls reporting the blaze at 8:29 p.m. at the apartment complex at 151 Lovers Lane, Battalion Chief Eric Singleton said. When the first crews arrived, they encountered heavy flames engulfing two buildings and threatening a third. Trees in the courtyard were also burning, adding to the intensity of the fire.
Firefighters immediately called for mutual aid response, bringing in reinforcements from Redwood Valley, Hopland, Potter Valley, Willits, and Cal Fire. Crews launched an aggressive attack, working quickly to knock down the flames.
“The fire started on the first floor, outside on a patio, and then moved up the structure, into the second floor and attic,” Singleton said. “Once it got into the attic, it ran the common attic space, spreading rapidly across the building.”
Eight upstairs apartments were completely gutted, along with one downstairs unit. A third building sustained heat damage, with broken windows and bubbled paint, but firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading inside.
Despite the scale of destruction, Singleton emphasized the positive outcome. “For as fast as this fire moved, not having any major injuries or loss of life is a huge win. Life is the one thing you can’t replace.”
As crews battled the flames, Pacific Gas & Electric shut down power to the affected buildings. The fire also damaged the complex’s main gas meter and water main, leading to further disruptions. Millview Water District had to cut off water service to the entire complex due to a broken line.
The Red Cross responded swiftly to provide aid to displaced residents. “They mobilized immediately,” Singleton said, working hard to find the dozens of displaced residents resources in the aftermath of the fire.
Firefighters remained on-site long after the flames were extinguished, escorting residents into damaged apartments to retrieve essential belongings, including medications.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though officials believe it was accidental in nature and originated outside on a patio.
The apartment complex, which Singleton described as low-income housing, was home to many vulnerable residents. “People were really concerned about what was going to happen to them,” he said. “It’s already hard when you’re struggling, and then something like this happens.”
While the fire was devastating, Singleton reiterated that it could have been far worse. “At the end of the day, everyone got out safely. That’s what matters most.”
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I fought similar fires in the 1970s on the East Coast. Building codes there back then required fire breaks in the attic, separating the attic space of each unit from the others. Could have limited the damage to a single unit. Low bid construction? SMDH.
Great job fire fighters and everyone involved. Today we are remembering a hometown fire fighter in Buffalo killed on duty 2 years ago, Jason Arno. People of honor and courage.
No, that’s like 4 people per apartment, normal for 2 or 3 bedroom apartments. And that’s not even counting the apartments that weren’t destroyed but were evacuated.
This comment was originally a reply to another one that has since been deleted. Posting this here for context.
At least no one got hurt, thanks to the brave firefighters and Red Cross. ??
That complex are all one bedroom apartments. Did you hear about that house that burned down In Mexico? It left a thousand homeless.
I was a part-owner of the Cliffstone Apartments complex at 151 Lovers Lane in the 1990s. Back then there were 8 two bedroom apartments and some apartments had fenced yards. There was also a much loved and well maintained swimming pool (thanks to excellent caretaking by Barb, the long-ago onsite resident manager).
I was so sorry to read about the fire and see all those horrific photos. It’s truly a miracle that no one was injured. A big thank you to all the firefighters who worked so quickly and efficiently. And kind thoughts to those who lost their apartment and their belongings.
In the future of California we will need to build with more fire resistance materials.
I wonder if there is a way to reuse the concrete from the dams that being removed and build homes with it?
Might work!
You never know!
Fortunately and unfortunately California has already put that in play. Well actually the fire insurance carriers did. If a structure burns down you have a bunch of hoops to jump through. You have to add inside and outside sprinkler systems no doubt no gas appliances now since Newsom is pushing his all electric agenda. I can go on for awhile about all of this but I won’t. Thank God the people are safe is really all that matters.
Wait, there was 37 people in 9 apartments??? How?
4×9 is 36
That’s 2 parents and 2 kids per apartment, one with grandma. Easy.
See my comment above. Eight apartments were two bedrooms and twenty-eight were one bedroom apartments when I was a part owner in the 1990s. It was not unusual back then for a couple with 3 young children to rent a 2 bedroom unit. The one bedrooms were usually rented by singles or couples. There was a pre-K playground behind the laundry room and an in-ground swimming pool in the main courtyard. The units were kept in good shape, and there were around 16 garages available to rent as well. The complex was built in or around 1980, and its building materials were predominantly wood.
It was a genuine pleasure working with the onsite resident manager and getting to know the wide variety of tenants living at Cliffstone Apartments in the 1990s.
Again, thanks to all the first responders and good luck to the residents impacted by the fire.