An early morning blaze has left several Long Beach residents without a home and mourning the loss of beloved pets. The fire, which broke out just before 1 a.m. Tuesday, tore through a four-story apartment complex on East 17th Street near Junipero Avenue, as detailed by firefighters over various local news reports. The Long Beach Fire Department responded to multiple calls and arrived quickly to find smoke billowing from the building's second-floor, eventually spreading to the third and fourth floors, according to an interview with Capt. Crabtree obtained by KTLA.
Efforts to quickly to knock down the flames proved successful, with the fire being declared under control by around 1:10 a.m. The aftermath, however, revealed a grim scene as three residents were unable to return to their homes and at least three pets, two cats and a dog, perished in the incident. The exact number of pets and residents affected remains unclear, but initial reports from the scene indicated multiple animals, including dogs, cats, and birds, were rescued, as confirmed by a statement from the Long Beach Fire Department cited by CBS News Los Angeles. The American Red Cross was called in to provide immediate assistance with housing resources for the displaced.
While the fire was extinguished without injury to any residents, the emotional toll of the event was palpable. One resident recounted waking to the chaos, telling KTLA, "My wife and I were in our bedroom... we went to bed early tonight, and someone came running, ‘Hey, the building’s on fire.’"
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Investigators remain on site to determine the origin of a blaze that, according to FOX LA, began on the second floor with smoke initially observed on a balcony. Long Beach Animal Services was also called in to assist, an important reminder of the pets that are all too often tragically affected in such disasters. The full extent of damage and loss continues to be assessed as the community begins to recover and regroup from this unexpected tragedy.
