One dead in Chula Vista apartment fire

CHULA VISTA (CNS) – A South Bay apartment fire killed a woman, left four
other people injured and displaced several families Wednesday.

The blaze erupted for unknown reasons shortly before 10 a.m. in a ground-
floor unit at a complex in the 500 block of Park Way in Chula Vista,
according to fire officials.

A man inside the residence escaped the intense flames, then tried in
vain to extinguish them along with his son, with both suffering minor burns in
the process, Deputy Fire Chief Justin Gipson said. A woman believed to be the
older man's wife was unable to get out and died in a back room. Her name was
not immediately available.

Medics took the injured men to UCSD Medical Center in San Diego. Two
other residents who also attempted to help put out the fire were slightly hurt,
Gipson said. They declined medical treatment.

Police and firefighters evacuated half of the 12 units at the two-story
complex while engine crews subdued the blaze, which took about seven minutes,
according to Gipson. Fire, smoke and water damage left four of the apartments
uninhabitable pending repairs, he said.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation as crews continued
dousing hot spots into the afternoon.

“We anticipate being here all day,” Gipson said.