Firefighters fighting two-alarm fire at apartment complex in midtown Sacramento

Firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire that broke out at a two-story four-plex Friday in midtown Sacramento.

The Sacramento Fire Department said its crews responded to the blaze just after noon and found flames running between three structures at 2714 T St. The first responding crews called for a second alarm and additional resources.

Several occupants were inside the structure when fire ignited outside but no one was injured in the blaze, which is under investigation, said Capt. Justin Sylvia, a spokesman for the department.

Sylvia said the extra resources were required due to the age of the building and because it was in a dense urban environment.

“These structures downtown have what’s called balloon framing. They have no fire stops halfway up the walls,” according to Sylvia. “So when we do get fires in the walls, they quickly can spread up to the second, third, whatever floor and into the attic space. So that was definitely a concern on this.”

Fire did reach the attic of the back structure closer to Tomato Alley close to three other structures including the front building. Sylvia said the close quarters made battling the blaze tougher: “We have to be mindful of the construction of these buildings so we can put crews in specific locations so they don’t get injured.”

Several units were damaged from the blaze, which crews saw from a stairwell along the walkway between properties.

“It got all the way to the back room, the fire,” said resident Richard Lopez, who escaped the flames after he smelled smoke coming from the outside. “I had all my closet, all my clothes — everything in there.”

Two other buildings sustained minor smoke damage.

“Luckily, everyone was able to get out,” Sylvia said.

The Bee’s Daniel Hunt contributed to this story.