ESCONDIDO, Calif. — On Friday afternoon, flames tore through several apartment units on Midway Drive in Escondido.
Plumes of thick, black smoke could be seen for miles throughout the area, witnesses told CBS 8.
“First units arriving on scene found multiple apartments on fire with residents of the entire building evacuating. The fire eventually went to a second alarm,” Escondido Fire Department Battalion Chief Brian Salazar said.
Four units got completely burnt down, eight others were damaged and one person was sent to Palomar Hospital for smoke inhalation in minor condition.
The fire also damaged the front bumper of a parked car near the units.
“I saw one upfront that just definitely got burned I don't believe there's any other vehicles,” Salazar said.
Seventen adults, six children and some pets are displaced as a result of the fire. Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“Because of the extent of the damage from the initial unit it’s going to be a bit of an investigation to figure out exactly what started it,” Salazar said.
Salazar tells CBS 8 that the apartment complex management is working to house the people affected. In case they are unable to house families or people with pets, Salazar said the American Red Cross will step up to help people get temporary housing.