- The fire in an apartment complex under construction started at 10 p.m. on Friday evening
- Residents in Visalia have been evacuated as a precaution
- The fire brigade spent an hour trying to get the ‘major’ fire under control
A massive fire has broken out at an apartment complex under construction in California. The local population has been ordered to evacuate the area.
The “major” fire started at the Visalia location on Friday around 10 p.m.
Dramatic video shows the complex going up in flames and a thick plume of smoke rising from the buildings.
A massive fire broke out at an apartment complex in Visalia, California on Friday evening
The fire started around 10 p.m. and firefighters had difficulty controlling the flames
Residents in the area were evacuated and locals were urged to avoid the area
It is not yet known whether anyone was injured or how the fire started.
Firefighters battled the blaze for about an hour before bringing the situation under control by 11 p.m. Visalia Times Delta reports.
They used aerial water cannons to extinguish the flames, which engulfed several apartment buildings.
Road closures were in place for hours to protect the public, who were urged to stay away.
Visalia Fire Department said in a statement Friday evening: “All Visalia fire units in the city are on the scene of a large fire at Akers Street and Riggin Avenue.
“Please avoid the area, there will be numerous fire trucks and fire hoses on the ground to extinguish the fire.”
The fire started in the area at the site of a project at Akers Street and Riggin Avenue.