An apartment complex was evacuated in the 100 block of Ballayntyne St. after fire engulfed the building just before 6 p.m. Sunday, according to Heartland Fire.
A woman fell asleep with a candle lit and woke up surrounded by flames, her husband said.
Heartland requested a second-alarm response, and San Miguel units came to assist.
Neighbor Bill Hanson said he and another neighbor grabbed two fire extinguishers and ran upstairs into the blaze to put out the fire.
“I was in my apartment with the doors closed and we heard a popping noise," he said. "It did slow it down for a minute, but then it roared back up and we had called 911," Hanson told NBC 7.
Hanson told NBC 7 he’d do the same thing for anyone. “I don’t care who it is. I’d do it for anybody. It’s just what you do."
Rami Harbi moved to San Diego four years ago. He is originally from Iraq.
Local
Through a translator, Harbi told NBC 7 that his wife was home alone when the fire started.
“She just wake up with the fire and she scared," the translator said. "she get out of the house right away … They lost everything."
The Red Cross is assisting with temporary for displaced tenants. It is unclear how many tenants have been displaced.
Fire crews haven't confirmed the cause. Reportedly no one was injured.
Check back for updates on this breaking story.
