On Friday morning, April 10, Alameda Fire Department (AFD) responded to a reported fire in the Alameda Hotel Apartments at 1415 Broadway. AFD initially sent three engine companies, two truck companies, one ambulance, one battalion chief, and the Alameda Care Team, according to AFD reports on Facebook [1] and Instagram [2].
[3]The first units on the scene reported smoke coming from the windows of a second floor apartment and heavy black smoke inside the second floor hallway, with multiple people who needed to be rescued on the roof and fire escape on the Santa Clara Avenue side of the historic building, which once was the Alameda Hotel.
Firefighters immediately accessed the apartment where the fire started and were able to extinguish the fire there, protecting adjoining units and saving the remainder of the three-story apartment building, AFD reported. They also successfully rescued residents from the roof and fire escape.
Due to quick actions of the firefighters, the fire was contained to the single unit on fire. Building management assisted other residents who needed relief from remnant smoke odor in the building. The fire was contained and extinguished in approximately 20 minutes.
[4]A total of 22 firefighters responded to the fire scene. There were no reported firefighter injuries. Three patients were treated and released at the scene.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Alameda Municipal Power, PG&E, the Alameda Police Department and the Alameda Building Department all provided assistance. Additionally, the Oakland Fire Department provided mutual aid fire station coverage and one mutual aid Falck ambulance was requested to the scene for standby, according to the AFD report.
Built in 1926, the Spanish Colonial Revival-style complex contains a total of 93 apartments. Many comments on the AFD social media reports thanked firefighters for putting the fire out so quickly, rescuing those who needed help, and saving the beautiful old building.