Blaze occurred along School Street; cause under investigation
LODI, CA, (August 21, 2024) - A fire on Wednesday afternoon in Lodi resulted in injuries and displacement for multiple families.
One person was injured and several others displaced in an apartment fire Wednesday afternoon along S. School Street in Lodi.
The blaze erupted in a second-floor apartment on the 1200 block of S. School Street, and firefighters from the Lodi Fire Department arrived promptly at 1:10 p.m.
A spokesman for the city of Lodi reported that it took approximately 40 minutes for crews to control the flames which had spread to neighboring units. Two units were completely destroyed while another sustained partial damage.
One resident suffered burns to the face and neck and was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital for treatment.
Four adults and three children were also affected by the fire and received assistance from the Red Cross, which provided resources such as financial support to aid in their recovery process.
A witness in the area reported smelling something burning and, upon further investigation, observed dense smoke rising from the complex. The witness then saw flames reaching up to 30 feet high and heard an explosion caused by a rear window shattering. This led to a nearby tree catching fire.
The cause of this tragic incident is currently being investigated.
APARTMENT FIRE INVESTIGATION
Although the thought of a fire in your home can be frightening, the fear can be worse for those living in multi-family apartment buildings. Landlords and management companies do not always follow the rules and guidelines put in place by municipalities to ensure the safety of tenants and put people's lives at risk.
Frequently, evacuation routes are not properly posted, fire doors lack proper maintenance, electrical wiring is subpar, or outdated appliances are in use.
"Landlords have a huge responsibility to their tenants, said Gerald Singleton, an attorney with Bond Legal, who is an experienced litigator of apartment fires. "When rules are not followed, it can potentially be disastrous for the people living in multi-unit residential buildings."
When multiple families live in close proximity, neglect of any part of an apartment complex can cause harm.
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
A victim may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim pending an investigation.
Singleton said, “Injured victims involved in a fire often seek a personal injury claim to cover the cost of medical bills, future medical care, loss of income, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering.
"Insurance companies can be notoriously unconcerned with the mounting costs an injured party may accrue. An attorney can help. We protect the victims of these tragedies daily, forcing the insurance companies to pay for their mistakes,” he added.
If you or a family member have been involved in an incident similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analyst Gerald Singleton free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page
(Gerald Singleton, Of Counsel at Bond Legal, is a national legal analyst for Newsline. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Mr. Singleton to help you, please call 866-599-0297 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).