From Niesha Lofing:
Two men have been arrested in connection with a Sunday-morning fire that caused $3 million in damage to townhomes being built in Rancho Cordova.
The four-alarm fire started just after 6 a.m. at two sets of townhomes near Zinfandel Drive and Highway 50, said Charles Jenkins, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District battalion chief.
"When I left the station, flames were visible over the rooftops and trees," he said.
The fire began in one of two six-unit townhome buildings and spread to the other complex across a narrow alley. The townhomes were under construction and were in the framing stage, Jenkins said.
Firefighters established a defensive line around the fire to keep it from spreading to nearby occupied homes.
The fire was contained in about an hour-and-a-half, and crews had the blaze extinguished in about five hours, Jenkins said.
"The potential of getting all those occupied homes was huge," he said.
The townhomes are in high-density housing area called Zinfandel International, Jenkins said.
The development is owned by Beazer Homes. Beazer officials estimated damage to the 12 units at $3 million, he said. The fire damaged the framed structures, as well as the infrastructure beneath them.
"In my opinion, it's a complete loss," he said.
The suspects, whose identities have not been released, were arrested on suspicion of arson. The fire remains under investigation.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.