A total of 31 people lost their apartments in a fire in southeast Fresno. Six units burned and another ten can't be used because the electrical wiring was damaged. The Fresno Fire Department say arcing electrical wires inside the walls started the fire.
The three alarm fire started around 8:45 on Monday morning at the Peachwood Apartments on Peach and Olive Avenues. 54 firefighters and 18 trucks responded. Once flames got through the roof, fire spread across the building. Six apartments were a total loss.
The ordeal had Pamela Moore shaken. She woke up to someone banging on her door.
"Tell us to get out, get out, get out, so I got up. I just grabbed a picture of my mom and dad," said Moore.
Aside from a few keepsakes, Moore and others lost most of their belongings. A neighbor called Viveca Francis as he apartment was burning. From the other side of town, she begged for someone to help.
"First thing I said, 'get my dog.' I just said, 'the dog is on the porch, he's stuck on the porch,'" said Francis.
Firefighters say Buffy the Pit Bull was actually hiding inside a back bedroom. A firefighter, who did not want credit, went inside to get her.
"I thanked him three or four times. I love that man because he rescued her. I didn't know if she would bite him or attack him. She did bite him but she didn't go through the skin he said. So I really appreciate it," said Francis.
Once the fire was out, American Red Cross handled the next emergency.
"I don't have nothing. My kids games, my furniture, everything expensive," said Mary Nash, who lives in the apartment where the fire started.
With 31 people in a state of shock, the Red Cross helps with finding places for them to stay for three nights. It also provides some food and clothes. Katrina Poitras says when large fires happen, folks want to donate, but don't always know how.
"We don't take clothing and we don't take food. If you have those resources and would like to donate you can call Salvation Army or Catholic Charities and donate to them, and then we send our families to those resources," said Poitras of Red Cross.
The number to call if you'd like to donate is 559-455-1000.
