Man Accused Of Arson In Alameda Apartment Fire That Injured 2: Police

ALAMEDA, CA — A 52-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson following a blaze at an apartment building in Alameda on Wednesday that left at least two people injured.

Police did not identify the suspect, but said they are an Alameda resident suspected of purposefully starting the fire at an apartment building in the 400 block of Central Avenue sometime before 4:45 p.m. They were also arrested on suspicion of committing a felony while on release for a previous case, the Alameda Police Department said.

It's unclear if the suspect lived at the apartment building. Heavy flames erupted on the first floor and spread to adjoining units, trapping people above, Alameda Fire Department officials said Wednesday.

Firefighters rescued three people from the third floor as other crewmembers attacked the blaze, authorities said.

A fourth person jumped from the third floor of the building to escape the flames, authorities said.

The extent of their injuries was not clear, but authorities said they took two people to local hospitals for treatment.

It took 35 firefighters to get the fire under control in just under 20 minutes, authorities said.

"The involved building was located deep within the property with access challenges," fire officials said Wednesday. "Due to pre-planning by initial crews, personnel were able to quickly identify the best access for fire attack and search crews."

Six apartment units were damaged in the blaze, impacting at least 12 residents, authorities said. The Red Cross responded to help those impacted, authorities said.

"The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Alameda Police Department and the Alameda Fire Department," police said. "No additional information will be released at this time."