
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: June 16, 2021
Contact: Fire Chief: Steve Henry 935-1652
2 Story Apartment Fire Displaces 16
At approximately 10:40 am this morning, residents of the Westwood Apartment complex discovered a fire on the balcony of a second story apartment. The Coalinga Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 call for help.
The department sent two engines and upon arrival found a well involved apartment spreading to a second unit, and the attic of the building well involved.
Crews made an aggressive attack to the interior and the attic space which saved losing several additional units. A second alarm was requested and units from Cal Fire, Fresno County Fire District and Kings County Fire Department were dispatched, at the peak of the fire, there were 25 firefighters assigned.
During the mop up stage of the fire, one Coalinga Fire Department Reserve was injured by falling building material. He was treated at Coalinga Regional Medical Center and released. The cause of the fire was careless discard of a cigarette. Dollar loss is estimated to be over $350,000. The Coalinga Fire Department would like to remind everyone to properly dispose of discarded cigarettes and use a metal container to place the used remainders