BAKERSFIELD, Calif., On May 7th, 2024, at 2:48 a.m. Kern County firefighters were dispatched to a report of an apartment on fire with alarms sounding. The reported address was unclear and responding firefighters were forced to determine the correct location of the fire, which was found at 600 Fairfax Rd. Upon their arrival, firefighters found an apartment complex with two-story, townhouse style buildings. An end unit was fully involved in fire with smoke and flames coming from the windows. Crews pulled hoselines and attacked the fire with priorities of victim search and fire extinguishment. A second alarm was started due to the high victim potential. As additional firefighters arrived, adjacent units were evacuated and searched. Firefighters were alerted to a possible elderly occupant, upstairs in a neighboring apartment. While clearing this unit, a victim was found and was escorted outside. The individual was treated by firefighters for minor, fire related injuries and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Firefighters went to the roof and cut multiple ventilation holes with chain saws, allowing smoke and super-heated gasses to lift out of the burning apartment. This assisted the interior firefighters in their battle with the flames. Victim searches were completed with difficulty due to the second floor being completely burned out and gone. The structure was found to be all-clear. 

The fire was held to a single, two-story unit, with multiple units protected and ultimately saved from the fire. 

No further injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Working smoke alarms alerted neighbors to the fire in the complex. These neighbors took the initiative to knock on doors, waking many  residents and informing them of the fire. We applaud the responsible actions of these individuals. This incident demonstrates the value of working smoke alarms in the home. In this case, smoke alarms led to the 9-1-1 call and alerted those nearby of the fire hazard.