Third-floor fire at Hotel Sanford

At approximately 7:00 p.m. on April 23, fire alarms went off at the Hotel Sanford in the 1300 block of Fifth Avenue. As the alarm is connected to the San Diego Fire Department, they and other first responders arrived immediately.

According to Cheryl, a third-floor resident directly across the hall from the room at the point of origin, she opened her door and flames were shooting out from the floor to the ceiling and a large amount of smoke was filling the halls. She and other residents were quickly evacuated as sprinklers were going off, flooding the room and halls and quickly dousing the blaze.

The fire department then assisted in extinguishing a flaming mattress and opening up floors and ceilings to check for extensions of the fire.

Water leaked down through the ceilings to the second and first floor, causing damage to floors, other rooms, an office, and computer room.

According to Cheryl and other residents interviewed, three people were attended to by paramedics and then taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. All were released early this morning.

The Red Cross assisted residents with moving their property and helping them get set up in other rooms at the hotel. Management, maintenance, and emergency-service crews worked through the night, vacuuming up water and removing carpet and debris.

Investigators were still working to determine the cause, but it was thought that alcohol may have been a factor. The structure damage was estimated at approximately $150,000, while damage to personal property of residents was estimated at $10,000.