Four Alarm Fire Displaces People in 26 Units

Firefighters battled a four-alarm structural fire in Mountain View this afternoon that has left many displaced, the fire department reports.

The blaze reported in building 'C' at 200 E. Dana St. at 3:25 p.m. has left nine apartments--56 to 59 and 69 to 72--completely destroyed and the building "unoccupiable," according to Fire Chief Brad Wardle. Due to water damage, the fire department will not allow residents to return to the other apartments.

A fire fighter suffered minored injuries. No resident was hurt.

Resident of building 'D' who originally might not have been able to go home, where told that by 7:30 p.m. they might be able to.

Fire fighters and police officers have directed resident to where they can get more information about when they can retrieve any belongings, if possible, or get help with shelter and food for the night.

Red Cross volunteers arrived to assist.

Throughout the evening stunned and frustrated residents continued to pour into the school unsure what to do next.

Craig Yeh, 42, was home when the fire began. He heard something crack and began to smell fire, he told Patch as he sat wrapped in a teal blanket at a table in the multipurpose room of Landels. Then he walked into the balcony and saw fire coming from the roof of apartment 57, right next door.

"I went over and knocked hard on the door and no one answered," he said. "So I called 9-1-1 and the apartment manager. Then I grabbed my daughter and left."

Yeh's 5-year-old daughter, who sat next to him said, "I was so scared and I cried."

Some people heard what happened in the news and drove over to help their displaced friend, from apartment 57, now wrapped in a blue blanket. He walked over to Yeh and said he hadn't heard him knock because he had his earphones on.

Margaret Engel and her son also live in the affected building, but feel grateful that their unit was in another corner far removed from the fire.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, Wardle said.

at Edith Landels Elementary School.

Any residents affected by the fire may contact the Red Cross at 877-727-6771 for assistance.