Santa Clara firefighters battle blaze at 12-unit apartment building

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - A Tuesday night fire displaced tenants from an apartment building in Santa Clara.

It was reported about 10:30 p.m. in the 3000 block of Homestead Road.

Residents say they saw the fire consume a shed outside of the apartment and they were unable to stop it. Fire officials say the fire spread laterally to two upstairs units. At least three apartments are not safe for the residents to return but the electricity was cut to the entire building to help the fire fighters.
When fire crews arrived, they found the 12-unit apartment building in heavy smoke and fire was coming out of the upper floor.

Fire Chief Bill Kelly said the fire had reached the attic and spread quickly. Firefighters had to cut a hole in the roof to let out smoke and do an aggressive fire fight from the top. 

“We were sleeping and then we heard some cracking noises,” said resident Saujada Adey. “Then we heard someone knock on our door to leave. We saw the fire outside in the shed. We tried throwing water on it, but it was just too hot. Rhe fire was everywhere.”

Fire crews had the fire under control in 30 minutes. At least three apartments were deemed unsafe to return.  Fortunately, no one was injured. 

Fire investigators will be looking for what started the fire.