Humboldt Bay Fire Responds to 2 Fires in 20 Minutes

EUREKA, Calif. (KIEM) – This morning, firefighters arrived to 3 rooms of an apartment building blazing around 8:30 a.m. behind Chin’s Cafe and Motel. It was the second fire reported to Humboldt Bay Fire within 20 minutes.

A loud bang woke a couple up inside the burning building as the walls shook violently. They had to use 3 fire extinguishers before help arrived.

Resident, Chris Martin, recounts, “We looked in and there was a bit of a fire that had started under where the collapsed ceiling had dropped down on top of other things in the room. We got one of the fire extinguishers and none of them could remember how to pop the tab and pull the pin, so I popped the tab and pulled the pin and got the flames out that were going on at that time.”

One resident and a cat suffered from burn injuries. The resident was quickly transported to the hospital by their friends before firefighters arrived, and the cat was taken in by animal control. Thankfully, no firefighters were harmed in this incident.  

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but Community Risk Reduction Specialist at Humboldt Bay Fire, Amy Conlin, advises, “Your first priority is to get out. And then, it’s to call us. We’ll be on our way, we have all the equipment necessary to put the fire out, but what is irreplaceable is you and your life and that of your family so get out, and then call us.”