Press Release - Explosion in Medical Building - Five Alarm Fire

Date/Time of Occurrence:	July 27, 2005 , 6:16 p.m.
Nature of Occurrence:	Commercial Structure Fire
Location:	300 University Ave.
MapQuest Link:	Click Here to See Map
Contact:	Battalion Chief Niko King
Phone:	916-216-0316
Incident Number:	36736
Email:	nking@sfd.cityofsacramento.org
Photos:	http://www.cityofsacramento.org/fire/gfx/Fire300UniversityAv072705/

SACRAMENTO – At 6:16 p.m. the Sacramento Regional Fire/EMS Dispatch Center received multiple 911 calls reporting an explosion followed by fire at a two story medical complex. As the first fire companies arrived to the building, they reported heavy fire conditions with people evacuating and immediately began to call for additional resources. The fire continued to consume the wood framed medical building as fire companies continued to respond from throughout the Sacramento area.

Occupants of the medical office stated that they had heard a very loud explosion that actually jolted the walls of their offices. As people stepped outside to investigate where the explosion occurred, they saw a heavy black plume of smoke forming from the building. The evacuation included a dialysis treatment center where it is estimated that over a dozen people were present.

Sacramento Fire Department Investigators will be conducting the investigation with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Although the building was occupied at the time of the explosion, there have been no reports of anyone missing from the building. There have also been no reports of any injuries as a result of the explosion or fire from workers who were present. Two Fire Fighters did receive minor heat related injuries, one was treated at the scene and the other transported to a hospital and is expected to fully recover.

The response from both the Sacramento Fire Department and Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District included eleven Engine Companies, seven Truck Companies, two Medic Units, one Hazardous Material Unit, and 31 support and command staff bringing the total number of Fire Fighters to 102.

The property will be secured tonight with a chain link fence as Fire Companies continue to stand by. It is expected that a team of investigators will begin sifting through the remains of the building at daylight.

More information will become available as the investigation of the fire continues.

Incident Commander:	Battalion Chief Chris Ortiz
First-In District:	8
First-In Company:	Engine 8
City Council District:	District 3: Councilmember Steve Cohn
County Supervisor District:	District 3: Supervisor Susan Peters
Cause:	Under Investigation
Public Information Officer:	Battalion Chief Niko King
Number of Firefighters Injured:	2
Time To Control:	1 hr 45 mi
Total No. of Medic Units:	2
Total No. of Engine Companies:	11
Total No. of Truck Companies:	7
Total No. of Hazardous Materials Companies:	1
Total No. of Fire Companies:	21
Total No. of Command and Support Staff:	31
Total No. of Firefighters:	102