Apartment fire in Hayward prompts evacuation of 125 residents
HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) --
Residents of an apartment complex on Silva Street in Hayward were
evacuated early Monday because of a fire that is believed to have been
set intentionally.There were 125 people, including children, who were forced to leave their homes.
Residents of the Courtyard Apartment Complex were assisted by the Red Cross after crews battled three small fires on the third floor.
"My 8-month-old baby was asleep. I heard a slight alarm and didn't think anything of it. I looked out the door and saw smoke and got right out of dodge," resident Monique Dace said.
Two people were treated on site for smoke inhalation. There were no other injuries.
Only four apartments suffered smoke and water damage. Those residents are being put up at a hotel.
"It's suspicious in nature because we had three separate fires all located on the third floor," Hayward Fire Department Batt. Chief Mark DeDomenico said.
The fires started in separate locations, the laundry room and two different stairwells.
Tran Vo's father had a hard time breathing. They moved into the complex just a few days ago.
"We were so scared, my mother cried," Vo said.
Residents are being allowed to return to their units as cleanup crews work around them.
"My apartment was good. There was a little bit of smoke in it but it's good now. It was actually kind of scary," resident Talal Alayan said.
There is an investigation into what was used to start the fires.