The Associated Press
 AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli Firefighters tackle the fire Thursday. |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Four Sacramento firefighters escaped serious injury Thursday when a roof collapsed as they battled a blaze at a beauty-supply business.
“As the roof caved in, they were able to grab the edge of the roof and save themselves,” said Capt. Jeff Lynch of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.
The firefighters suffered only bruises and scratches before returning to fight the blaze in the south part of the city. No other injuries were reported.
Three people were in the business, which provides products to beauty supply shops and nail salons, when the fire broke out shortly after noon. All escaped without harm, Lynch said.
Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting out the front of the building and through the roof.
They had not immediately determined the cause of the blaze, which produced a thick plume of smoke that could be seen for miles around the capital.
Although the fire consumed chemicals in the shop, Lynch said the smoke did not pose enough of a health risk to warrant evacuations.
“They felt confident that smoke was dissipating quick enough that it didn’t pose a danger to the community,” Lynch said of fire commanders.
“It wasn’t like it was a chemical plant going up.”
The blaze at the Nail Depot near Florin Mall drew more than a dozen trucks and 70 firefighters.
After the roof collapsed, firefighters pulled back to surround the building and were able to save neighboring businesses.