Massive Fire Consumes Wood-Framed Apartment Complex Under Construction in Concord, California

2 people injured from smoke inhalation in blaze that displaces 250 residents

Silver Spring, MD – A huge wood-framed apartment complex in Concord, California – a small city northeast of Oakland – was destroyed Tuesday afternoon after a massive 3-alarm fire tore through the building while it was under construction.  Two people were injured from smoke inhalation and more than 250 people were evacuated from a neighboring building.

The blaze comes at a time when a number of wood-frame, multi-family residential structures – both occupied and under construction – have been the site of intense fires, fueled by the combustible materials in the buildings in question. The latest have been located in: Willingboro, NJ; Manteca, CA; Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA; Princeton, NJ; East Boston, MA; Lakewood, NJ; Weymouth, MA; Haverhill, MA; Waltham, MA; Charlotte, NC; Warner Robins, GA;  Midvale, UT; Oakland, CA; Dorchester, MA; Lawrence, MA; East Hollywood, CA; Lowell, MA; Waterbury, CT, Emeryville, CA; St. Petersburg, FL; Arlington, VA; College Park, MD; Overland Park, KS; Raleigh, NC; and Maplewood, NJ. There have been dozens over the last few years.

According to the California News Wire Service, Fire Marshal Robert Marshall said the building was the second phase of the Renaissance Square apartments. It was 60 percent complete and a mostly wood structure.

"The majority of the building was under construction without any sheetrock whatsoever, so there's just no way to control that," Marshall said.

In order to address the vulnerabilities that exist in combustible structures, Build with Strength has stepped up efforts to mitigate the dangers of fire for communities across the country.  In reviewing current building and fire safety codes, the coalition is working to identify areas in need of improvement, particularly in updating building codes by including the use of non-combustible materials to minimize the risk of fires.

“Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt in Tuesday’s fire,” said Kevin Lawlor, spokesperson for Build with Strength. “However, the city of Concord has already expressed desire to rebuild after what they acknowledge is one of the city’s largest fires in recent memory without consideration for the materials used is certainly disconcerting. Combustible materials present greater challenges for fire safety for the simple fact that they burn. Build with Strength is willing work with any lawmaker or stakeholder in order to build more resilient communities.”

Learn more at www.buildwithstrength.com.