Hundreds flee empty building fire in Concord

A major fire ripped through an apartment building under construction in Concord early Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 250 people from the residential complex next door and injuring two people there.

Around 1 a.m., the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District received reports of a fire near the intersection of Willow Pass Road, Galindo Street and Concord Avenue. The building, a 180-unit development called Renaissance Square, was empty at the time of the fire, officials said.

“When we arrived, there was a portion of the building that was completely engulfed,” Fire Marshal Robert Marshall said. “It spread to all combustible sides of the building, and led to sudden collapse of that portion of the structure.”

An adjacent apartment building was evacuated due to concerns about heavy smoke and the potential of the fire to spread. The two

“The fire was just everywhere. You could feel the heat and I was just dodging the embers.”

Emily Scheffler, who was among the 250 evacuees

injured people suffered from smoke inhalation and were expected to recover, Marshall said. The fire was under control by 1:30 a.m. but still smoldering hours later.

“The building is considered a total loss,” Marshall said. “We estimate the damage will be somewhere around $55 million.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will help determine whether the blaze was arson, officials said.

“It is way too early in the investigation to know if this was accidental or intentional,” said Jill Snyder, the head of ATF in the Bay Area.

In the past two years years, two fires at the same under-construction housing complex in Emeryville, and another in Oakland, have been ruled arsons by federal investigators, prompting concern about a possible political motive. The cause of a massive blaze at another housing construction site in Oakland in July 2017 is “undetermined,” the ATF said.

Renaissance Square is owned by Legacy Partners and the project was slated to open in September.

“We are aware of the situation, and do not have any formal statement at this early stage,” David Eichler, senior managing director at Legacy Partners, said in a statement. “Our primary objective is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of nearby residents and supporting the emergency response teams.”

Benton Housand, who’s lived in Concord for about six months, said he came outside at 1 or 2 a.m. after seeing the fire from his apartment and calling 911.

“I thought it was my neighbors’ yard lights at first, but then thought, oh crap, it’s an enormous fire.”

Sisters Emily and Hailey Scheffler and their dog Waffle were among the 250 evacuees. They sat outside their home Tuesday, awaiting a chance to get back inside.

Emily was the only one home when the fire broke out and she had to leave behind their cat, who was hiding. She was able to grab Waffle and flee, she said.

“At first, when the alarm went off, I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” Emily Scheffler said. “We have fire drills all the time. But then I started hearing people in the hallways and knocking on doors and I looked out the window. The fire was just everywhere. You could feel the heat and I was just dodging the embers.”

Contra Costa County issued a health advisory for anyone with preexisting respiratory conditions within 1 mile of the fire, urging them to stay inside or at least a mile away from the scene.

Mayor Edi Birsan visited the official command post Tuesday and remarked on Concord’s history as a city formed by settlers who left Pacheco in the mid 19th century following a series of fires, floods and, finally, a major earthquake in 1868.

“This is the largest fire in memory here,” he said. “Fifty-five million dollars is a substantial amount and will be an impact on the city. However, I should point out that the city was formed 150 years ago when the town of Pacheco was destroyed. We are, from generations, survivors and rebuilders. We will rebuild. We will continue.”