Early-morning fire kills one person at care facility in south Sacramento

A fire that broke out early Sunday at a board-and-care facility in south Sacramento killed one resident, fire officials said.

The fire erupted shortly after 2 a.m. in the 4600 block of Roosevelt Avenue in south Sacramento, according to Sacramento Fire Department spokesman Roberto Padilla. Firefighters pulled one person from the burning building, but that individual died at the scene. The victim’s name was withheld pending notification of family.

All other occupants were safely evacuated, and firefighters put out the blaze in 30 minutes, Padilla said. One firefighter suffered a minor injury.

The fire appears to have struck the common living room for the facility, with residents who live in a separate rear wing escaping unscathed. On Sunday afternoon, a charred sofa was sitting on the lawn in front of the damaged, boarded-up building.

Rich Blackwell, a five-year resident, sat in his car still trying to process the tragedy.

“I was sleeping when I heard the manager screaming fire,” said the 36-year-old. “I tapped the door to see if it was hot but it wasn’t, so I crawled out.”

Blackwell, who suffered head trauma in a 2010 car crash, said the facility is called Happy Homes and that he pays $750 a month for a bedroom. He said management assists residents, who suffer from a range of injuries, with cooking and other tasks.

Employees of the facility, which has no signs announcing its presence, were not on site and could not be reached for comment.

This story was originally published November 15, 2015 at 7:19 AM.