The following is the Stockton Record article on the condo fire across the street from us.

Fire destroys condos
Nobody hurt in blaze in north Stockton

By Scott Smith
Record Staff Writer
Published Thursday, September 9, 2004

STOCKTON -- Fire destroyed a pair of Quail Lakes condominiums and caused damage to a third Wednesday evening in a blaze that sent a rich plume of black smoke billowing skyward over Stockton.

Investigators aren't sure what sparked the 6:30 p.m. flame in a vacant condo at 4831 Grouse Run Drive north of March Lane, said Andy Prouty, a spokesman for the Stockton Fire Department.

Nobody was hurt. But investigators estimate that the blaze destroyed $300,000 in property and destroyed another $75,000 in belongings. A resident of one destroyed condo and another woman who lives in the damaged residence were both displaced, Prouty said.

The smell of smoke and sound of screaming sirens from vehicles responding to the two-alarm fire drew residents from the neighborhood into the streets.

Dave Janiero, a neighbor, was driving by when he spotted smoke coming from the vent of the vacant condo unit. The smoke quickly morphed into flames.

"I said to myself, 'This place is on fire,' " said Janiero, who dialed 911 and then started helping neighbors pull cars and motorcycles out of garages.

Other neighbors were rescuing caged pets and personal belongings from threatened units. The two destroyed residences were among six units that back up to Quail Lake.

By the time the first firefighters arrived, flames had consumed the condos that share an attic, Prouty said. Firefighters were soon ordered to evacuate the burning building out of fear the roof would collapse. Fire crews took up positions on the street, aiming water streams at the flaming roof.

Mary Stuever, who lives across the street, was pulling into her driveway after a trip to the grocery store when she noticed smoke. Her first thought was that somebody was barbequing. Then she smelled smoke from an electrical fire and heard a loud boom, she said.

"You never forget the smell of an electrical fire," Stuever said.

Leanne Mueller, a neighbor on Grouse Run Drive, said she believed the fire started in the vacant condo. Workers repairing that unit's air conditioners were in and out of the residence all day, she said.

Firefighters went into the condominiums and started battling the blazes, while others kept water flowing on the third threatened residence where Alice Peters lives. Firefighters cut into her attic to make sure her roof wasn't on fire, causing minor damage.

"I was going to come out and water my yard when I saw smoke," Peters said.

She stood on her lawn watching firefighters rush into her home and carry furniture to the safety of the back lawn. She feared for a time losing her car parked in the garage and antiques she collects.

"They're condominiums. They're all attached," said Peters, who was homeless for the night until her power could be restored. "When one goes, they all go."

Joyce Randolph's 80-year-old mother owns the vacant condo and was preparing to move in within the next two months, she said.

Firefighters put out the blaze in 40 minutes and spent several hours mopping up the fire scene. Randolph, arms folded, stood on the front lawn of her mom's would-be home.

"I've never been part of a fire," she said. "I don't know what to do."