Fire Erupts at Park Central Apartments

A fire at Park Central Apartments prompted evacuation; no injuries were reported. Photo by Nina Glick

A fire broke out Friday evening, May 9 at the Park Central Apartments, prompting a full evacuation and a rapid response from local fire crews. No injuries have been reported, according to a Santa Clara police officer on scene.
The fire is believed to have started on the balcony of unit 1314 before spreading outward. Reid Fundis ’25, a resident in the unit directly below, said he and his roommate became aware of the fire when “sparks and stuff were falling from the balcony above onto ours.”
“When we left, there was just a very small fire—maybe the size of a campfire—on our balcony,” Fundis said. “It didn’t look like it had spread to our apartment, and we didn’t see anything below it catch fire.”
The origin of the fire has not been confirmed.
Firefighters arrived shortly after the building was evacuated. When approached for comment, one firefighter declined, stating they were unable to provide information at this time.
Emergency restoration crews were on standby as firefighters worked to secure the scene. José Angel Perez, an employee Dry1Out Restoration, said they were preparing to assess the damage and begin recovery efforts once the fire department cleared the site.
“We help secure and restore the property after events like this,” Perez said. “That includes boarding up units and working with insurance to begin the cleanup.”
The extent of the damage remains unclear, but based upon video of the fire Perez believes that multiple units may be damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
More updates will be provided as they become available.

Photo by Nina Glick