Stenner Glen in flames again

The second fire in two days broke out Tuesday night at Stenner Glen residences on Foothill Boulevard. The fire occurred in building eight of the housing facility shortly before 9 p.m., in the same suite as the previous day’s blaze.

The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department deemed the fire accidental and said in a news release that the fire was caused by the placement of a portable construction light near combustible items.

Catherine Hughes, a psychology freshman, called 911 at approximately 8:50 p.m. to report a fire alarm and presence of smoke and fire from the eighth building. Hughes, who is a resident in the 13-building complex, expressed concern after the fire siren sounded because of the events from the previous night.

Hughes said the emergency dispatcher first asked if there was a possibility that the alarm was pulled as a prank but the situation was immediately deemed urgent enough for direct response.

Stenner Glen staff members ensured that all residents were evacuated before the fire units arrived and there were no injuries reported. Once outside, many witnesses saw flames rising from the windows and sparks from the roof.

The fire department arrived at the scene two to three minutes after the call was placed, said John Callahan, San Luis Obispo City Fire Chief. Initially, one fire truck was sent to the residences in response to the alarm. However, five additional trucks soon followed once a fire was confirmed.

When the fire units arrived, flames were billowing out of a first floor window and reaching the second and third floor windows above, authorities said.

The fire crew maneuvered to the site of the blaze through the walkways and was able to gain access to the flames through the back of the building 16 minutes following emergency dispatch. After 15 minutes, the fire was controlled, though firefighters stayed on the scene for another four hours for further investigations.

Callahan reported that the fire damaged all three floors of building eight, none of which were equipped with emergency sprinklers. Minor damages occurred on the second and third floors, while the first was a “complete burnout,” Callahan said. The damage will cost nearly $50,000, while the Jan. 8 fire was estimated at $10,000.

It is not yet known whether Monday night’s blaze had any connection to the fire that occurred on Tuesday evening. However, on Wednesday, officials reported that the cause of the second blaze was due to a construction light on the premises.

All residents of Stenner Glen, except those living in building eight, were able to return to their suites shortly after the fire was extinguished. Of the approximate 600 tenants, the 48 students that occupy the damaged building were placed elsewhere until further notice. Of those who were displaced, 18 were temporarily housed in other residences within Stenner Glen and 30 with arrangements made by the American Red Cross Disaster Services.

Residents of the housing community, roughly half of which are freshmen college students, expressed confusion and worry after learning of a second fire in the same location.

“I am concerned with my safety here at Stenner Glen. The important issues regarding the fire were addressed irresponsibly,” said Kelsey Rice, an agricultural communications freshman and resident of building eight.

Stenner Glen administration sent out an informative e-mail Tuesday morning to all residents, briefly describing the fire on Monday night and precautions to take within the residences. However, residents felt that a more proactive approach was necessary.

“(We) were given no direct communication other than an e-mail,” Rice said. “I would have liked to see a meeting to address the fire.”

The fire Monday night was started by a mattress that caught fire, causing approximately $10,000 in damage, according to a city fire department press release. An e-mail sent out by the Stenner Glen property manager Tim Kershner stated that the batteries had been removed from the smoke detector and warned against these actions.