Two Injured in Early Morning Fire

Two people were injured early this morning in a three- alarm fire that destroyed four apartments in a a 20-unit complex in Hemet, a Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman said.

The fire in the 25600 block of New Chicago Avenue was reported at 2:06 a.m., said Riverside Fire Department spokeswoman Melody Hendrickson.

The first arriving engine company reported smoke showing from the multi- family apartment complex building, and a third alarm was called, she said. Fifty-one firefighters using 14 engines contained the fire at 4:26 a.m. Hendrickson said.

Four units of the 20-unit apartment complex were destroyed, two units had moderate smoke and water damage, and the remaining 14 were undamaged, she said.

One person was transported to a hospital by ground ambulance with second to third degree burns on 30 percent of the body and the other suffered smoke inhalation, Hendrickson said. No firefighters were injured.

The Red Cross was asked to assist with displaced residents, Hendrickson said. The cause of the fire was under investigation.