Four San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department firefighters were injured on Sunday, August 2, while battling a six-alarm fire that tore through an apartment complex at 815 Sea Spray Lane in Foster City, sending smoke visible as far as Oakland.

SMCFD, which serves San Mateo, Foster City, and Belmont, dispatched units to the scene just after 2:30 p.m. One firefighter suffered burns, two were treated for smoke inhalation, and a fourth sustained unspecified injuries, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Two of the four were transported to a hospital for further treatment. The Foster City Police Department said all four injuries were minor.

No residents were hurt. All occupants, including pets, were safely evacuated from the building.

Mayday on the third floor

SMC Fire Chief Matt Turturici said at an afternoon press conference that crews found flames on the first and second floors of the multi-dwelling complex when they arrived. The blaze escalated from a four-alarm to a six-alarm response by approximately 4 p.m., KTVU reported.

The most harrowing moment came just before 3 p.m., when two firefighters on the third floor were briefly overcome by flames and lost sight of each other. One made a mayday distress call, releasing additional resources to the scene. Both were eventually found safe, Turturici said.

"Responding firefighters found flames on the first and second floors of the complex," Turturici told reporters. Wind and hot weather fueled the fire's rapid spread, according to ABC7.

The department received numerous calls reporting people trapped inside. Several residents were rescued from third-story windows before crews shifted to defensive mode, fighting the blaze from the exterior.

Residents displaced, Red Cross responding

The Foster City Police Department confirmed all residents were safely evacuated. The Red Cross was called to the scene to connect displaced residents with resources, though the total number of displaced households has not been released.

Nearby residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke.

As of 7 p.m. Sunday, August 2, crews were still working to fully extinguish the fire and expected to remain on scene for several more hours.

Cause under investigation

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. SMCFD has not released information on how many units in the complex were damaged or destroyed.

Residents with information about the fire can contact the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department at (650) 522-7900.