Sunnyvale apartment complex damaged; residents displaced following 2-alarm fire, authorities say

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (KGO) -- A two-alarm fire in Sunnyvale damaged multiple units of an apartment complex late Tuesday morning and 24 residents are now displaced.

The fire happened at 1642 Kirkland Drive where Sunnyvale Fire crews spent much of the day mopping up and checking for hot spots.

Firefighters were waist deep in suppression foam as families watched their homes burn.

That was the scene of a two-alarm fire fight at an apartment complex in Sunnyvale just before 11 a.m.

According to Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety officials, "preliminary information indicates that three of the eight units sustained significant fire and smoke damage, and the building as a whole was damaged," including Frank Lampkin's.

"We lost everything when I got back," Lampkin said. "It was all gone. There was water everywhere. It was there. Our apartment was actually on fire. It's just so unsettling. We have five kids, you know, my wife and I, and we got to regroup."

Fortunately, there were no injuries to residents, police and firefighters.

There were no reported civilian, officer or firefighter injuries.

The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety says the cause remains under investigation, but it appears to have started in a rear unit of the complex.

The neighborhood was covered in fire suppression foam shown from high above with SKY7.

It helped contain the flames from spreading and damaging other units.

"It helps to suffocate the fire, preventing oxygen from getting to the fire to spread," Sunnyvale DPS Capt. Dzanh Le said. "And also with foam, it stays in place a lot longer. So it is more effective in preventing the fire from spreading and also with extinguishing the fire."

Despite the fire being extinguished quickly, the damage was already done.

The city and the Red Cross were on hand providing assistance.

It's help that's very much needed for Lampkin and his family as they search for what's next, while maintaining a glass half-full mindset.

"You can't get upset," Lampkin said. "You're just going to run yourself crazy, right? So, yeah, it's just life has just been altered. That's all it is. You know, it gets better, you know, just keep living and, you know, it'll work out."

The Red Cross will continue to assist in finding housing and other resources for families impacted, after this fire that has altered many lives here in Sunnyvale.

A GoFundMe page has been created to assist the Lampkin family.