Update on the Stockton Pallet Fire
The pallet fire in Stockton on May 25 has been a life-altering experience for some former residents of East Weber Avenue as they try to get their lives back together. Readers may recall the fire, which occurred last Thursday, started at a pallet company, spread to a nearby building and rail cars, and then spread to residential homes along Weber Street, severely damaging some homes and completely destroying others.
Aftermath of the Fire
The result of the blaze was that five families lost their homes, two people suffered burn injuries, vehicles were destroyed, and families lost several pets. While the Red Cross handed out hotel vouchers for the displaced families so they would have a place to stay, it is a short-term fix.
According to the Stockton Fire Department, the blaze began about 5:15 p.m. and was under control a little over two hours later. However, that was sufficient time to devastate Weber Street. One man said that he had made repeated phone calls about the hazards of the pallet yard. Another neighbor said she had phoned Stockton Code Enforcement numerous times, as did others living there. She believed they must have made 50 phone calls about the hazard.
Pallet Company Cited
According to one community service officer, a citation was issued to the pallet company in May. She stated that the property owner had about three weeks to bring the business into code compliance, although she did not state the specifics of the code violation. The business owner said everything was lost in the fire and that it would not be reopening. The pallet company had purchased broken pallets, repaired them, and resold them. An investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing.
Liability in a Fire
When another’s negligence causes a fire that results in injuries or property damage, that person may be able to recover damages, depending on the evidence. A lawyer with experience in fires, their causes, and injuries can help by examining evidence to place fault, calling in expert witnesses, and gathering the information needed to present a solid case to recover damages.
Attorney Ed Smith
Stockton Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton personal injury lawyer. Fires can have devastating consequences that cause smoke inhalation, burn injuries, including catastrophic burn injuries, and loss of personal property. When you or a family member has suffered a personal injury due to a fire caused by negligence, phone me at (209) 227-1931 for free and friendly advice. Your phone call is always free. Call me at (800) 404-5400 outside your calling area.
I have worked as a Stockton area lawyer since 1982 to help the injured recover fair compensation in wrongful death, vehicular accidents, and other personal injuries.
As the founder and owner of autoaccident.com, our website offers informative articles on different types of California personal injuries.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/fire-burn-hell-warm-heat-flame-298105/
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