Wednesday afternoon, just after 1 pm, the Lodi Fire Department responded to the report of a fire in an apartment building on South School Street, near Tamarack Drive.
According to officials, the fire began on a floor-level unit and spread to adjacent units. In the end, the fire had consumed two units and damaged a third.
One person was burned on the face and neck, and the crew transported them to the hospital. Three children and four adults were displaced due to the fire, and the Red Cross was called to help them.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
What Commonly Causes Apartment Fires?
Apartment fires can be dangerous, as seen in Wednesday’s incident. In apartment complexes, there are many people concentrated in one area. Fires in apartment complexes can be sparked by a variety of factors, including:
- Electrical Issues: overloaded outlets, malfunctioning appliances, or faulty wiring can spark fires.
- Heating equipment: space heaters, radiators, and baseboard heaters can cause fires if flammable items are placed too close to them.
- Cooking accidents: leaving cooking unattended, grease fires, and mishandling hot appliances can cause fires.
- Smoking materials: cigarettes, cigars, matches, and other smoking materials that are not properly extinguished can easily ignite nearby flammable items.
- Dryer lint buildup: if dryer vents or filters are not regularly cleaned they can cause fires as lint is highly flammable.
- Arson: tenants or others can intentionally set fires to the building and cause significant damage.
“While officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, it is important to remember that apartment fires can happen quickly and spread rapidly, putting many lives at risk,” says Gerald Singleton, attorney of Singleton Schreiber, “Whether this fire was caused by an electrical issue, a cooking accident, or another cause, tenants and property owners must be vigilant about fire safety and take the proper steps to protect themselves and avoid starting fires.”
“Our thoughts are with the victims as they recover from this devastating incident.”
Victims may be eligible to file claims for compensation to cover damages such as:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Emotional turmoil
- Temporary housing costs
- Lost wages
- And more
If you’ve been the victim of an apartment fire, contact the team at Singleton Schreiber today by calling (619) 771-3473 or emailing info@singletonschreiber.com to learn more about your options.
