Several residents were displaced today when a fire broke out at an apartment building in Murrieta. This incident marks the third structure fire in the City of Murrieta today and the second 2nd alarm fire within 12 hours.
At about 1:48 a.m., Murrieta Fire & Rescue units were dispatched to a reported structure fire at the Waterstone Apartments, located near the intersection of Hancock Avenue and Las Brisas Road. The first responding crews encountered heavy fire conditions, according to Murrieta Fire & Rescue.
Due to the intensity of the flames, firefighters initiated a defensive fire attack in the primary apartment unit to prevent the blaze from spreading to neighboring apartments. Additional resources were requested to support firefighting operations and to maintain coverage for additional calls for service.
The fire affected 20 individual apartment units, displacing several residents. The American Red Cross has been contacted to provide immediate assistance and resources to those affected. At this time, the exact number of displaced residents is still being determined.
Murrieta Fire & Rescue was supported by CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department during suppression efforts, while the Murrieta Police Department assisted with crowd and traffic control.
This incident marks the third structure fire in the City of Murrieta today and the second 2nd alarm fire within 12 hours.
“As we navigate this exceptionally busy day, Murrieta Fire & Rescue would like to extend a special acknowledgment to our emergency dispatchers,” the department said in a statement.” Coinciding with National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we recognize the contributions of the emergency dispatchers who have coordinated the communications and resource deployment for all three major incidents today. They are the first of the first responders, and their professionalism is critical to the safety of our firefighters and the community.”
Murrieta Fire & Rescue reminds all residents that working smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of a home, inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly, and any unit more than 10 years old should be replaced.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
