Mountain View residents in the 1700 block of W. El Camino Real experienced a frightful night due to an accidental cooking fire in a multi-family residence yesterday. According to the Mountain View Government's website, the ordeal unfolded at 9:16 p.m. when a sprinkler system was triggered on the third floor of the four-story residence, closely followed by a call to the fire department from a fire alarm company. The occupants self-evacuated from the affected units before firefighters arrived.
Arriving at the scene just five minutes later, firefighters found the sprinkler system diligently working to extinguish the fire caused by unattended cooking that ignited the contents of a pot on a stove. While the sprinkler system halted the progression of the flame, the ensuing heat resulted in water damage that affected three units in the building. The ultimate cause of the fire was deemed to be accidental.
Firefighters turned their attention to water removal and salvage operations, working to minimize the damage to residents' homes. Although it is fortunate that no injuries were sustained during the blaze, the estimated cost of the damage to both the contents and the structure amounts to $150,000.
In the wake of the fire, the residents of two of the three affected units decided to remain in their apartments. However, two adults residing in the apartment directly below the source of the fire sought refuge in a hotel, aided by a $250 gift card from the California Professional Firefighters Union Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency Program.
