The American Red Cross is helping residents find temporary shelter
STOCKTON, Calif. —
At least 40 people in Stockton are without a home after a fire burned an apartment complex and a four-plex on Sunday.
It happened on the 300 block of East Oak Street in Stockton at around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Stockton Fire Department.
Roughly the entire on-duty crew for the day was assigned to the fire, which equates to nearly 55 people, according to fire leadership.
Officials said no one was reported to be injured in the fire, and the cause is under investigation.
The American Red Cross is assisting with shelter for those that have been displaced.
“Nobody’s going to be allowed to stay in the building,” Battalion Chief Travis Winton told KCRA 3. “The power, gas and electric has been shut down and [the two buildings] will be boarded up.”
When KCRA 3 asked about the timeline for resident re-entry, Winton said it could be “several months.”
Residents said they heard a loud “boom” sound before the flames began in the three-story apartment complex, and then spread to the four-plex next door.
“[The] whole ceiling is collapsed,” Monique Taylor told KCRA 3. “I couldn’t go in.”
All Taylor was able to recover from her apartment was her I.D. and birth certificate.
“Some people couldn’t even get their pets,” the apartment complex’s manager said.
He also lives in the building and told KCRA 3 there was another fire there a few days ago.
After looking at the building and speaking with other residents, he believes this latest fire could have begun in the same unit or be connected to its wiring.