A fire that erupted in a Riverside apartment building caused major damage to one of the units, injuring and displacing the three occupants, authorities said Thursday.
The blaze was reported about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 3800 block of Polk Street, near Magnolia Avenue, according to the Riverside Fire Department.
Battalion Chief Garrett Coryell said that three engine crews and a truck company, numbering close to 20 personnel, were sent to the location and encountered smoke pouring out of a second-story apartment.
“All of the residents were able to exit the apartment before the arrival of fire crews,” Coryell said. “A residential sprinkler system activated in the apartment, causing additional water damage.”
The three adult occupants of the unit, none of whom were identified, suffered minor burn injuries and smoke inhalation. One of the victims was hospitalized in stable condition, according to the battalion chief.
He said that crews got the fire under control by 5:50 p.m.
The flame and water damage was estimated to be $50,000, and the unit was left uninhabitable.
Red Cross personnel were summoned to assist the victims with finding temporary alternate lodgings, according to Coryell.
The exact cause of the blaze was not disclosed, though officials ultimately determined that it was unintentional.