Investigators are looking into the cause of an early Tuesday fire at the Tuscany Apartments in Mesa that left one building destroyed and 18 people displaced from their homes.
More than 100 firefighters from Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert and Tempe battled the blaze at the complex, 901 S. Country Club Drive, for about an hour to get it under control and stop it from spreading, according to Mesa fire spokesman Forrest Smith.
Fire crews responded to the blaze about 4 a.m. after someone noticed flames coming from a third-floor balcony. The fire then spread into the attic area of the building, Smith said.
Overall, 40 people were evacuated and eight apartment units were heavily damaged by smoke or heavy water, and one person was treated for smoke inhalation, according to Smith.
A dollar amount of damage was not known and the American Red Cross was working to relocate the 18 people who lost their homes.
Smith was quick to remind residents to make sure they have a working smoke detector in the home as the blaze happened in the early morning hours when most people are sleeping.
“We wanted to make sure everyone made it out safely,” Smith said.
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