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Monterey officials praise firefighters, Red Cross after large multi‑alarm Casanova apartment fire
Summary
City leaders credited firefighters, police, Red Cross and local nonprofits for rescuing residents and organizing shelter after a three‑story apartment fire on Kasanova; the fire prompted mutual‑aid, mass‑casualty response and sheltering at the Hyatt for dozens of displaced residents.
Monterey’s City Council on March 17 publicly thanked firefighters, police, Red Cross and numerous nonprofit and city departments for their response to a large three‑alarm fire the previous week at an 86‑unit, three‑story apartment building on Kasanova.
Fire Chief Moore gave a detailed after‑action summary describing the building’s center‑hall construction, common attic and lack of sprinklers — features the chief said caused the fire to spread rapidly. Crews rescued residents from balconies, conducted roof and ladder operations and treated the event as a mass‑casualty incident; engines and medic units were on scene within minutes, and mutual aid arrived from neighboring agencies. "It was the sheer will and determination of our firefighters that saved lives that day," Moore said.
City officials described their multi‑department response: Monterey Police officers conducted evacuations; Public Works assisted with road closures and site logistics; Parks and Recreation and the city opened facilities for shelter operations; Monterey‑area transit and hotels coordinated transport and temporary housing; and the Red Cross and local nonprofits provided food, blankets and pet support. The council read numbers from the Red Cross about recent Monterey County volunteering and relief work, noting volunteers installed hundreds of smoke alarms and helped dozens of households after recent fires.
Public commenters from adjacent neighborhood associations praised the Hyatt staff and nonprofit partners for orderly on‑site reception of evacuees and for coordinating specialty needs such as pet care. Council members urged residents to use the event as a reminder to check home smoke alarms and emergency plans.
Quote: "We could have very easily lost many more lives or the building," Fire Chief Moore said, praising the interagency response.
Next steps: The city manager’s office said the Housing Authority will lead housing placement work with displaced residents; staff will continue follow‑up on building condition, rebuilding needs and community recovery resources.
