Humboldt Bay Fire press release:

On 5/5/18, at 9:23 P.M. units from Humboldt Bay Fire, the Eureka Police Department, and an engine from the Arcata Fire Protection District were dispatched to a reported structure fire at an apartment complex on the 700 block of I Street.

Nearby Eureka Police Officers arrived on scene first and located a smoke filled apartment. Officers forced entry and ensured that nobody was inside that apartment.

They then exited and provided information to the arriving firefighters which allowed the firefighters to quickly locate the fire and extinguish it, minimizing damage to that apartment and preventing fire spread to the adjoining units.

The fire was isolated to an area around a wall heater. Multiple smoke alarms were sounding in the complex and the adjoining apartments were checked. One additional apartment was found to have minor smoke damage.

Fire personnel remained on scene for approximately one hour to secure utilities and remove smoke. There were no injuries to civilians or emergency personnel. The cause of the fire appeared to be a malfunctioning wall heater. Damage was estimated at $3,000.