Condo fire forces evacuation of nearby buildings

By Julie Ann Marra
Herald/Review
Published/Last Modified on Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 - 05:30:27 am MST

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SIERRA VISTA — A four-apartment condo caught fire Wednesday afternoon at 4420 Buena Loma Way.

Sierra Vista Fire Marshal Paul Cimino said the fire began around 2 p.m. in the grill located under a wooden balcony. The initial report was that a propane tank had exploded, but Cimino said there was no evidence of an explosion.

“The flames actually traveled up the wall of the wood balcony and got up under the eaves and into the attic,” Cimino said. “It’s a very difficult fire to fight today, especially because of the wind.”

The surrounding buildings were evacuated in case the high winds spread the flames. Firefighters had to evacuate the burning building when the roof collapsed. Firefighters then relocated their equipment so that a truck equipped with a ladder could spray water onto the top of the building. That truck can pump up to 200 gallons of water per minute when hooked up to a fire hydrant, Cimino said.

Sierra Vista firefighters work on the second floor of a quadraplex located at 4420 Buena Loma Way, which caught on fire on Wednesday afternoon. No one was injured, and the cause of the fire is being investigated. (Ed Honda-Herald/Review)

Personnel from the Sierra Vista and Fry fire departments responded to the scene.

Cimino predicted that all the units in the building were affected by the fire.

“Once it gets up into the attic, it’s traveling in all the common spaces,” he said.

No injuries were reported, and residents stood in the shade of a nearby building watching the fire with looks of disbelief.

“We were on the couch and we heard noises and we looked outside and it was on fire and we came out,” said Kalya Shreve, 19.

She had moved into the building just a few weeks prior to the fire.

The fire is under investigation by the Sierra Vista Fire Department. Cimino said that new units similar to this one are now required to have sprinklers installed, including under balconies. This building had no sprinklers, and Cimino thought the fire might have been avoided if sprinklers had been in place.

The Southern Arizona Red Cross sent volunteers to help the four families whose apartments were lost. In total, 13 people resided in the condo. The three volunteers helped arrange lodging for the families and will meet with them on Thursday to determine their immediate needs and help to obtain those things such as meals, clothing and baby supplies.

Herald/Review reporter Julie Ann Marra can be reached at 515-4680 or by e-mail at julieann.marra@svherald.com

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C Harper wrote on Jun 27, 2008 6:54 PM:

" May we just say, "thank you for the many kindnesses shown by many wonderful people after the fire." Our son and his family lived in the condo. It was a very frightening experience, but those kindnesses made it easier. Thanks again to all of you who helped, may your blessing come back to you ten-fold. "

Last post period wrote on Jun 8, 2008 4:04 PM:

" your right it's way to easy to post anything by anybody on post a comment and get off the subject. I will no longer be doing that. No more post for me. It was childish on my part. As for Mrs. Obvious sorry for what I said. Doesn't matter what there called. It's all about the people that had the fire damage and smoke damage. Again sorry. Last one for me on any topic in this paper. "

Sympathetic wrote on Jun 7, 2008 2:47 PM:

" This is a retorical question, but why are some of you using this as an opportunity to argue with one another? The investigation is still on-going as to the cause. Instead of pointing fingers and bickering, why don't you all just try to be sympathetic to the familes whose homes were affected. Let the fire dept and investigators determine the actual cause and take appropriate actions in charging anyone if necessary. The situation was an unfortunate one, and should just be an eye-opener to us all to be cautious this fire season. "

And you get paid for this wrote on Jun 6, 2008 1:47 PM:

" To Mrs. Obvious. As reported in the first sentence of this article." A four APARTMENT-CONDO maybe you can't read. Maybe it was you that jumped to the conclusion. Just cause you live in a un-named condo that really has a name and own one doesn't make you any expert on the obvious of apartment-condos. Mrs. Obvious you missed the hole point. Maybe we weren't reading the same article. I was just courious to see if maybe some of my friends lived at the APARTMENT-CONDO.
God speed for those affected by the fire. "

Any you get paid for this wrote on Jun 6, 2008 10:15 AM:

" Mrs.Obvious.Since I can't read according to you.Do you know the difference between MOST and NONE!Maybe you need to read what you write.You also stated althought on paper there is a specific name Duh, that means it really has a name and not just a HOA.Really a good job of contradicting yourself on this one.Seems I might know just a "LITTLE" Does yours have water sprinklers or is that too personnal?Just looking out for safety.I'm very sorry for their loss also.Maybe take some rental income and install sprinkler system for SAFETY.NO excuse for safetyfirst.Also they arent call complex anymore try communities. "

Just the facts wrote on Jun 6, 2008 7:42 AM:

" We comment on the story as it is presented. We cannot comment on what we don't know. If there are more facts, please let the Herald know and they can do a follow up, especially if the families need help. The story does not provide that info, other than the Red Cross assistance. Thank you. "

Mrs. Obvious wrote on Jun 6, 2008 12:04 AM:

" To: And you get paid for this. You don't know much do you. Learn how to read, and don't just to conclusions you know nothing about. This said CONDO's, not apartment complex. Most of the CONDS's around here DO NOT have a name. I live in a condo that I happen to be the owner of, and although on paper there is a specific name, there is not one outside that it is known by. The name our has is only for HOA purposes. The smoker who started it should be jailed! To the rest, I'm sorry 4 your loss. "

only if you knew the truth wrote on Jun 5, 2008 7:49 PM:

" Ok as just so you know my place was one of the ones in the fire. The fire actually started from somkers up stairs. There was a stack of empty boxes from a crib they bought. The ciggaret cought the box on fire and then the grill and the propane prussure release valve blew blowing the fire up stairs. I just wish you would not comment about things that you do not know about. This is a very sad day for four family's and two of the families had expecting mothers. "

Be Prepared wrote on Jun 5, 2008 1:59 PM:

" Always have an emergency bag packed with 3 days of clothes, bathroom kit, medications, etc for each member of the family. Have your important documents also in one place and one container. If you have a pet, have an emergency bag for them as well. You should be able to grab all this stuff and go in three minutes or less. Practice until you can, then check the bags at least once a year. Don't be left out on the street in nothing but a bathrobe. "

Joe wrote on Jun 5, 2008 11:01 AM:

" BBQ under a wooden structure in dry/windy weather equals stupid resident. But let's blame it on the lack of sprinklers, then we can sue someone with money. "

Concerned wrote on Jun 5, 2008 10:49 AM:

" Thank goodness no lives were lost!!!How can we help? Where can we donate? "

And you get paid for this wrote on Jun 5, 2008 8:18 AM:

" Where the heck was the fire other than the street address? I'm sure it has a name. All the other apartments do if you havn't noticed. I know that the SV Fire dept fought the fires. This is the second article I have read that you have wrote, which failed to get all the information out and ramble on. I know now that I soon as I see your name I'm not going to waste my time reading the article, since you seem to miss the point. "

Fire could have been avoided wrote on Jun 5, 2008 8:05 AM:

" If the resident had been paying attention??? Or had a fire extinguisher handy??? "