One Person Unaccounted For in RWC Apartment Blaze

By Bay City News

One person remained unaccounted for following a six-alarm apartment building fire in Redwood City that injured 21 people Sunday morning, according to a fire official.

Firefighter did not know as of Sunday night whether the missing resident remained inside the building or had left and reconnected with family without checking in with anyone, Fire Marshall James Palisi said.

"We just don't know," Palisi said. "But we will be looking for him."

The fire, reported shortly before 2 a.m. at the 72-unit Hallmark House Apartments at 531 Woodside Road, displaced around 97 people and injured 21, Redwood City spokesman Malcolm Smith said.

Three of those injured were firefighters. However, all of the injuries were mild to moderate in severity, Smith said.

The fire was under control as of Sunday evening but firefighters and equipment remained on site. Smith said firefighters were expected to stay overnight, and an investigation into the fire's cause wouuld not begin until Monday morning.

Woodside Road was closed in both directions from Bonita Avenue to Hess Avenue due to the fire, and was expected to reopen around midnight last night, Smith said.

The Red Cross opened an overnight shelter expected to serve more than 40 people at the National Guard Armory at 939 Velota Road in Redwood City.

Fire crews arriving on the scene Sunday morning found heavy flames and smoke coming from the building and many residents standing on balconies waiting to be rescued, Palisi said.

Firefighters climbed ladders and entered burning homes to rescue the trapped residents, Palisi said.

More than 100 firefighters with 20 engines and seven ladder trucks responded to the disaster, Smith said.

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