SLO apartment complex evacuated due to early-morning vegetation fire
A San Luis Obispo apartment complex was evacuated early Friday morning after a nearby tree caught fire, according to the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department.
Firefighters responded to reports of a vegetation fire near Margarita Apartments, located at 603 Johnson Ave., around 4:20 a.m., according to battalion chief Sammy Fox.
Fox said the fire spread to about a 60-by-60 foot area of brush and trees, but did not reach the building, which that backs up to Highway 101. Firefighters also worked to make sure embers didn’t spark on the nearby freeway.
The San Luis Obispo Police Department evacuated the six apartment units near the fire while firefighters worked to contain the blaze, Fox said.
According to Fox, the fire was put out quickly but firefighters remained on the scene for about an hour and half. Fox said the apartment residents were displaced for about that same amount of time.
Fox said the fire appeared to have been started near a transient encampment behind the apartment complex.
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 10:33 AM.
