FAMILIES FLEE APARTMENT FIRE.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer Four families were left homeless after smoldering smol·der also smoul·der intr.v. smol·dered, smol·der·ing, smol·ders 1. To burn with little smoke and no flame. 2. charcoal charcoal, substance obtained by partial burning or carbonization (destructive distillation) of organic material. It is largely pure carbon. The entry of air during the carbonization process is controlled so that the organic material does not turn to ash, as in a from a turkey barbecue two days earlier started a fire that did $400,000 to an apartment complex. Alerted by a passing motorist, residents safely evacuated e·vac·u·ate v. e·vac·u·at·ed, e·vac·u·at·ing, e·vac·u·ates v.tr. 1. a. To empty or remove the contents of. b. To create a vacuum in. 2. the four-unit building at 212 E. Lancaster Blvd. as smoke and flames billowed from the roof, then spread to the townhouse-style units' upper floors. ``Everything I own is gone,'' said resident Karen Deanna White, who has lived in the apartment complex for more than six years. ``I put a lot of work into my apartment.'' As the flames spread, White carried potted pot·ted adj. 1. a. Placed in a pot. b. Grown in a pot: many potted plants in the study. 2. Preserved in a pot, can, or jar. 3. Slang a. plants out of her apartment, but forgot her daughter's pet cockatiel cockatiel Crested, small, gray Australian parrot (Nymphicus hollandicus). It has a yellow head, red ear patches, and a heavy beak used to crack nuts. The cockatiel is in the same family (Cacatuidae) as the larger cockatoo. About 13 in. . A firefighter retrieved the bird in its cage. ``I was so worried about my plants I forgot about my bird,'' said White. ``I'm just glad that my kids were at school and are safe.'' Residents credited Linda Olivera of Palmdale with saving their lives. The 26-year-old woman was driving past after dropping her children at a nearby school when she saw smoke coming from the top of the complex. Olivera parked her car and began knocking on doors and yelling yell v. yelled, yell·ing, yells v.intr. To cry out loudly, as in pain, fright, surprise, or enthusiasm. v.tr. To utter or express with a loud cry. See Synonyms at shout. n. for residents to get out. ``I was scared,'' she said. ``Nobody was outside. I knew I had to let the residents know.'' Fire officials said charcoal left in a plastic bucket on an apartment balcony had burned a hole in a wall, then slowly spread to the attic. That apartment's resident smelled smoke last night and doused the bucket and wall with water, but didn't get the embers em·ber n. 1. A small, glowing piece of coal or wood, as in a dying fire. 2. embers The smoldering coal or ash of a dying fire. inside the wall. ``This fire could have been avoided if the woman had called the Fire Department,'' said Fire Battalion Chief Bill Bell. ``The woman put out the visible fire but didn't realized the fire had already spread.'' More than 20 fire units were sent to the 8:38 a.m. blaze, which was under control by 9:17 a.m. Officials said no one was injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. . They estimated damage at $400,000 and said the fire destroyed much of the complex's second floor. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1-2--Color) Karen Deanna White, top, looks at her daughter's cockatiel, Kay Kay, after a firefighter rescued it. Left, a firefighter sprays the top of an apartment complex after a fire, which was caused by smoldering charcoals, broke out. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News Bhavna Mistry/Daily News |
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