PLACERVILLE, Calif. — About 80 residents were displaced after flooding caused damage to the first and second floors of the Cottonwood Senior Apartments in Placerville.
The site is an independent senior living facility with a mix of 81 one- and two-bedroom units. It is operated by AWI Management Corporation, which is headquartered in Auburn and offers housing in California, Arizona and Hawaii.
A spokesperson for the El Dorado County Fire Protection District said crews initially responded around 7 p.m. Saturday for a fire alarm. However, crews arrived to find significant flooding on the second floor instead of fire. Officials said some of the first-floor apartments were also damaged.
“Found a ruptured two and a half inch sprinkler supply line over one of the living units inside the second floor," said Captain Jason Snyder, El Dorado County Fire Protection District.
Crews secured the water to keep the damage from worsening and started getting water out of the building.
Officials said about 25 people were impacted by the evacuations Saturday night and moved to the Placerville town hall. On Sunday, officials the remaining residents were evacuated, about 77 people, from the building.
Placerville Police Chief Joseph Wren said the building was deemed unsafe to occupy due to the break. City staff will do more inspections at the property Monday.
"Because the building was unsafe to occupy it, displaced those persons living there. The property management company was advised that they had the responsibility to provide adequate temporary housing for those displaced," Chief Wren told ABC10. "The City worked with the property management company to ensure that all persons who were displaced were placed in a safe environment, either at a local hotel or with family members."
A timeline for when residents might move back in is unclear at this time. Some residents are staying at the Best Western until they'll be able to return.
"It was crazy. I did not get here until like 11 o'clock at night and did not fall asleep till one,” said Ken Haverson, one of the residents evacuated from the complex.
Haverson said the it was a scary situation.
"There was water all over the place on the second floor, just gushing super crazy," he said. "It was so busy last night. That is a lot of people to move when they cannot walk or move in their electric chairs, wheelchairs, walkers and canes."
No injuries were reported.
