Redwood City fire injures construction worker

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Firefighters on Tuesday raced to put out a destructive fire in Redwood City that injured one construction worker and forced residents to flee their neighborhood choking on the thick smoke.

The fire, which broke out along the 300 block of Poplar Avenue, was reported around 11:45 a.m, police said.

Firefighters said that the fire started at a home under construction and eventually enveloped three other structures. Residents reported hearing multiple explosions at the time of the fire.

"They saw a bunch of fire, and then they heard an explosion. He saw a bunch of people moving their cars because the house was on fire," witness Ernesto Gonzalez said through an interpreter.

Video from the neighborhood shows neighbors walking through thick smoke, covering their faces.

Resident Joe Durand ran to make sure his neighbors were evacuated safely.

"We couldn’t get in. The door was very, very strong. We couldn’t kick it down, but I have this big crowbar. So I ran to get that. And by the time I got back the police were already there, and he got the crowbar and wrenched open the door," he said.

The residents made it out safely.

There were between 60 and 70 firefighters dispatched to the blaze, fire officials said.

Firefighters said that, along with surrounding trees and brush, one of the properties ablaze was under construction. Officials said a construction worker at the site, which was where the fire started, suffered injuries.

The extent of the construction worker's injuries wasn't immediately known.

The firefight lasted for several hours, as anxious residents waited for updates on their belongings and pets. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.