San Mateo County Sheriff’s Deputy Edgar Manilla helped a Millbrae woman and her two small children escape a fire at an apartment complex, then returned to help a pair of elderly residents reach safety on Monday, authorities said.
The three-alarm fire reported at 12:36 p.m. displaced all residents of the complex at 1007 Hemlock Ave., Millbrae officials said. The Central County Fire Department, San Bruno Fire Department, and the South San Francisco Fire Department contained and extinguished the fire.
Following the evacuation, Deputy Manilla was taken to Mills Peninsula Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
“Good team-work including fire personnel, medics, Millbrae Police Bureau deputies and tenants helped deliver a happier ending to what could have been a tragic story,” the sheriff’s office said.
According to the City of Millbrae, “all residents have been displaced and are receiving services from the Red Cross while temporary housing solutions are worked on in collaboration with the property management company.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Anyone who has information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-547-2700.
