A quiet Lodi block turned chaotic Friday afternoon when a fast-moving fire ripped through two adjacent homes on the 400 block of Harold Street, displacing six adults and one child but causing no reported injuries. Flames tore through a backyard and into an attic at one home before spreading to the neighboring house, and a nearby utility pole fell and caught fire. Crews brought the blaze under control in roughly 20 minutes.
At about 4:35 p.m., Lodi Fire Department crews were joined by units from the Waterloo-Morada and Woodbridge districts as they worked to box in the fast-moving flames. Firefighters trained hose lines on the attic and backyard area of the first home to keep the fire from chewing further into the neighboring structure. No injuries were reported, although multiple residents were displaced. According to a Facebook post from the Lodi Fire Department, the American Red Cross is assisting those residents, and the department’s fire investigation unit is probing the cause.
How crews contained the blaze
The Lodi Fire Department, an all-hazards agency that provides structural fire suppression and advanced life-support services, led the response from the outset. Nearby districts regularly provide mutual aid on fast-moving incidents, and both the Waterloo-Morada Fire District and the Woodbridge Fire District have resources and agreements in place to back up neighboring communities. On Harold Street, firefighters concentrated hose lines on the attic and backyard of the origin home to stop further spread into the adjacent house.
Residents displaced and recovery help
Six adults and one child were forced out of their homes by the fire, and the American Red Cross has been called in to help with immediate needs, shelter and recovery support, according to the Lodi Fire Department. Utility crews responded to secure downed lines after a power pole fell and caught fire during the incident. Officials did not report any injuries in connection with the blaze.
Investigation underway
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and Lodi’s fire investigation unit is leading the probe, the department said. A San Joaquin County document notes that local districts can tap countywide fire-investigation resources for technical support and specialized analysis, which may be available for this case; see San Joaquin County LAFCo for context. City officials have not yet provided details on damage estimates or a timeline for the investigation.
