By Khalida Sarwari
A fire at a Sunnyvale apartment complex on Monday that caused an estimated $800,000 in damage and displaced 40 people was caused by a resident who fell asleep while preparing a meal, according to Department of Public Safety fire investigators.
A three-alarm blaze was reported at about 1:50 a.m. on Monday at a two-story apartment building at 639 Caliente Drive, fire Capt. Dave Pitts said.
The fire was controlled at about 4:30 a.m., but by then the blaze had damaged several apartments, injured a man, and displaced about 40 people, Pitts said.
Investigators believe the fire was an accident. The occupant of the unit where the fire began told investigators he had a pot on the stove and was preparing a meal when he fell asleep while watching television.
He was awakened by the sound of the smoke detector, which investigators believe saved his life, although he did suffer second-degree burns to his hands, arms and face while trying to extinguish the fire. He was treated at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
His unit was “completely gutted,” Pitts said. Two other units sustained fire damage, and additional apartments sustained smoke and water damage.
The American Red Cross responded to assist 40 people who were displaced, most of them only temporarily, Pitts said.
The Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Palo Alto fire departments also assisted.