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Sunday, May 19th, a fire broke out at a San Ysidro apartment complex, injuring one person. The fire took place at the Milejo Village apartments, an affordable housing development that just opened back in November 2023. The building provides aid and support for those facing mental health challenges and homelessness.
Just before 8 pm, San Diego Fire Rescue was called to the Milejo Village apartment complex. When firefighters arrived, they were able to put out the fire in about 20 minutes.
On-scene reports indicate that the fire likely started inside a unit and may have been caused by the battery of a motorized scooter.
What Legal Avenues Do Burn Victims Have Available To Them?
In a situation like the fire at the San Ysidro apartment complex, burn victims may have several legal avenues to explore for compensation and justice. These potential avenues may include:
Negligence Claims
The burn victim may file a negligence claim if it can be proven that the fire was caused by someone else’s carelessness, like the property manager or owner. If there were issues related to the maintenance of the building, such as a lack of proper fire safety measures, the property management or owner may be held liable.
Product Liability
If the fire was caused by a malfunctioning product or part of a product, like in the San Ysidro apartment fire, the scooter battery, the burn victim may pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of the product. There are three main types of product defects that can be claimed:
- Design defects – flaws inherent in the product’s design that make it unsafe
- Manufacturing defects – errors that occur during production
- Marketing defects – failure to provide adequate warning or instruction
Premises Liability
If the apartment complex did not have adequate fire safety measures or if there were violations of building codes, the property owner or management could be held liable under premises liability. This could include:
- Lack of functioning smoke detectors
- Inadequate fire suppression systems
- Poor building maintenance that contributed to the fire’s spread
“Fires like the one that occurred Sunday in San Ysidro can have devastating effects on those involved,” says Brett Schreiber, attorney at Singleton Schreiber, “we hope that the victim recovers swiftly from their injuries and that authorities can determine the source of the fire. It’s important that victims of fires, like this one, know they may have legal recourse and could consider contacting a personal injury attorney to learn more about their options.”
Fire Safety Tips For Apartment Dwellers
To enhance safety and reduce the risk of fire-related injuries, apartment dwellers may consider the following preventative and general safety practices:
- Ensure smoke alarms work and have fresh batteries
- Avoid overloading outlets
- Follow safe cooking practices, like never leaving cooking food unattended
- Practice safe candle use by always extinguishing candles when leaving the room or going to sleep
- Promptly report any electrical issues or hazards to your landlord
- Inspect appliance cords, replace any that are frayed or damaged
- Keep flammable liquids in a safe, well-ventilated area away from heat sources
If you have been injured in a residential fire, contact a San Diego personal injury lawyer at Singleton Schreiber today by calling (619) 771-3473 or by emailing info@singletonschreiber.com.
