Man dies in central Fresno apartment fire that displaced 15 residents

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno Fire released helmet camera footage Thursday showing crews as they breached a Central Fresno apartment building during a deadly fire Wednesday. It killed one man.

"I wanted to see if we could break a window. Maybe the door was unlocked, and we could get in or something?" resident Cilla Lopez told Action News.

Lopez heard a cry for help and ran outside with her hose.

"It was too hot. Too big," she said. "Even when they were right here trying to put it out, it was hot, and they had to stand back."

The fire triggered a second alarm, drawing a total of 63 fire department personnel.

Officials said the fire spread from the first apartment into the building's shared attic, damaging all four units and displacing 15 residents.

Lopez was among those meeting with the Red Cross.

"They came. It wasn't just us they helped; they helped the other neighbors, too. We're all going through it together," Lopez said.

"Our hearts are with everyone affected by this fire. American Red Cross volunteers are connecting with the impacted families to provide support, care, and resources," the organization stated Thursday.

Fresno County authorities have not yet identified the man who died. Lopez said he had not lived there long and was with his sister.

"It's sad," Lopez said. "It's sad, but we did what we could. Luckily, the firefighters, they all came pretty fast."

On Thursday, cleanup was underway, with crews removing debris and surveying the damage.

One firefighter sustained minor burns and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.

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