CLEARLAKE — Top-story residents of a Cedar Village Apartments unit on Old Highway 53 in Clearlake were evacuated Tuesday morning after a stairwell collapsed. Although one man, who is believed to have been directly involved in the incident, may have suffered some injuries, he reportedly left the scene prior to emergency units” arrival.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m. when the second section of the stairwell on one of the apartment units collapsed. The unidentified man who left the scene was reportedly walking down the section when it fell approximately eight feet to the ground.
Lake County Fire Protection District responded to the scene with two medic units, an engine, battalion chief and fire chief. Personnel used a ladder to evacuate residents from the second story.
Evacuation was completed with minimal problems with the exception of one woman who was reportedly distraught by the situation.
One of the four upstairs occupants who were evacuated said he was surprised by the situation. “I didn”t hear anything because I was in the shower. Then the firemen came running up and surprise, ?you can”t get out of the house,”” Conrad Woodrum, 43, of Clearlake said. “It could have been me. I was out the door next.”
The portion of the stairs that fell was made of cement. The three-step portion rested on a wooden structure forming an elbow to the top story. According to one firefighter on the scene, the wood appeared rotten and there were no L-brackets supporting cement staircase.
Lake County Red Cross was contacted and will be providing assistance to the displaced residents. Residents are expected to be temporarily housed in vacant apartments within the complex until access to their units is safely reconstructed.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her at 994-6444, ext. 11.
