8 People suffer burns, other injuries in California apartment fire
SAN JUAN
CAPISTRANO, Calif. (AP) — Eight people were rushed to local hospitals Tuesday
with burns, smoke inhalation and other injuries after a fire broke out in a
Southern California apartment.
A
woman and a young child pulled out by firefighters were in grave condition
after suffering burns and smoke inhalation from the blaze in San Juan
Capistrano, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.
Another
woman was in serious condition after jumping from the second-story unit, and
five others, including four children, were being treated at local hospitals for
smoke inhalation after getting out on their own, he said.
Concialdi
said he believed as many as 10 people may have lived in the four-bedroom
apartment, but some details remained unclear.
About
60 firefighters battled the blaze that began at 9:15 a.m. and put it out in
less than an hour, Concialdi said. The cause of the fire is under
investigation.
Mayor
Derek Reeve told reporters that officials will undoubtedly learn lessons from
the fire but were focused on the victims.
"Right
now, we are trying to deal with the more immediate traumatic situation,"
he said