1 hospitalized following apartment fire in Visalia, multiple residents displaced

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- One person has been hospitalized following an apartment fire in Visalia.

It was first reported just before 5:30 Thursday morning on Locust Street near Murray Avenue.

Crews arrived to find flames and smoke coming from the converted home, which has three apartments.

One resident was rushed to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

The flames scorched through one of the three units and destroyed two garages, including the one for the apartment Maria Bacerros rents.

Now, her family and two others are displaced by the damage.

"It's my children's home, where they feel safe and there's no better place to be than home. Now, we have to go and find somewhere else to live for now," explained Bacerros.

Maria couldn't hold back tears as she shared feeling sad and stressed out.

At the same time, she is very thankful for the firefighters.

They came banging on the apartment doors this morning and got her family to safety.

"I'm very thankful right now still in shock but we are all okay," Bacerros said. "We are very, very grateful and blessed that nothing happened to us."

The Visalia Fire Department believes the flames first started in the alleyway.

"The fire was able to travel up into the attic space over the top of the apartments successfully we removed all the occupants one occupant was transported. At that point, we were able to change our efforts to put out the fire," said Visalia Fire Battalion Chief Dany Wristen.

Visalia Fire was assisted by CAL FIRE.

Tulare County Fire covered their station while firefighters were out battling the blaze.

At this point, the cause of the fire continues to be under investigation.

The condition of the person taken to the hospital is unknown at this time.

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