8 hurt, 55 displaced in Marin County apartment fire

Eight people were injured and 55 people were forced from their homes after a major fire devastated a San Rafael apartment complex early Thursday.

Two people were reported missing as of late Thursday afternoon, city staff reported.

One trapped person was hospitalized after jumping into San Rafael Creek, San Rafael police Sgt. Justin Graham said. Others also jumped into the water to escape the flames from the back of the complex.

“We definitely had some people under the circumstances who needed to get out,” Graham said.

The fire was reported around 5:30 a.m. at 516 Canal St. in the Canal neighborhood. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The three-story, 19-unit complex was “well-involved in the fire” when crews arrived, San Rafael fire Deputy Chief Robert Sinnott said. It took firefighters 90 minutes to bring the fire under control. The fire was completely extinguished by 11 a.m.

A small fire sparked by embers was reported in a nearby building. It was quickly extinguished, Sinnott said.

“The efforts and the actions that were taken by the firefighters were commendable,” he said.

Thirty-five San Rafael firefighters and 20 support staff responded to the incident, Sinnott said. The department’s fire boat battled the flames from the water, he said.

Central Marin, Ross Valley, Novato, Kentfield and Southern Marin firefighters also provided support.

“Just about every fire agency in Marin either had on-scene assistance or covered stations that are now vacant now we’re in the field,” Sinnott said Thursday morning.

A large crowd gathered to watch firefighters treat victims at a medical triage area set up a block away from the fire.

Neighbor David Lopez described a harrowing scene.

“I woke up and looked outside,” Lopez said. “I heard screaming and crying for help.”

He added that he heard about trapped tenants “jumping into the mud” at the creek area to escape the fire.

Lopez offered fruit, bread, and beverages for displaced residents near the medical area.

“I brought food, coffee and water for those in need who were affected by this,” he said.

Abner Diaz picked up a member of his church from a hospital who was treated for a leg injury after he jumped from the building’s second floor to the creek. He said that the resident could not see there was no water below him before he leaped.

“He doesn’t have a home to go to now,” Diaz said. “His family was living together and now they’re without a home.”

He brought the man to a shelter that the city staff set up for displaced residents in the Albert J. Boro Community Center at 50 Canal St. The shelter will remain open through Monday, the city said.

Quinn Gardner, the city’s emergency manager, said organizers are getting beds set up.

“Most survivors feel the initial gratitude of surviving and then you start going through processing what you lost,” she said. “This is a long recovery and our goal is to support our residents through that.”

The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army are providing support at the shelter.

County emergency services staff helped bring a trailer with shower facilities and distributed hygiene kits, said Steven Torrence, the county’s emergency management director.

Members of the nonprofit Canal Alliance assisted displaced tenants soon after the fire broke out. CEO Omar Carrera said that his staff is working to understand the tenants’ needs.

“The short-term is shelter and any emergency items they need, but then right after that we need to think about where they are going to be relocated,” he said. “The building is completely destroyed and so they won’t be able to go back there.”

Canal Alliance is accepting gift cards and cash donations for the fire victims. Donations can be dropped off at the organization’s office at 91 Larkspur St., San Rafael. The alliance is also setting up an online donation form.

Monetary donations for the relief effort can also be made through the Marin Community Foundation at donationcenter.marincf.org.