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BERKELEY'S NEWS • JUNE 02, 2023

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Resident attempts to escape fire on King Street, falls from 3rd floor of building

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

One person was sent to the hospital after falling from the third floor of a building in an attempt to escape a fire on King Street that occurred Saturday morning.

Berkeley Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at a four- to five-unit apartment building at 3144 King St. around 9 a.m., according to BFD Deputy Chief Avery Webb. The fire originated in the hallway within an apartment on the third floor, and two people were at the rear window of a bedroom calling for help.

Before firefighters arrived, one of the trapped people attempted to escape through the window and fell to the ground, Webb said. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters extinguished the blaze by about 9:15 a.m. and removed the other person from the bedroom. The person who fell was transported to Highland Hospital in Oakland.

In the apartment, firefighters found material burning in the hallway next to the wall heater, according to Webb. Upon further inspection, they found that the fire did not penetrate the building’s structure, although smoke damage throughout the apartment and water damage to the apartment below may displace two people.

Investigation into the origin of the fire is ongoing, although it appears to be accidental, according to Webb. Although the fire was upgraded to a two-alarm fire in anticipation of firefighters having to make a rescue, not as many resources were needed as expected because the fire was put out so quickly.

Melissa Wen is the lead city news reporter. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @melissalwen.
LAST UPDATED

SEPTEMBER 14, 2014


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