21 people picking up pieces after Indio apartment fire

April Gonzalez said a knock on the door was all that alerted her and her dog Kirby as flames ripped through the apartment units above them Wednesday just before 4 p.m.

“It was the maintenance man he said to get out of the apartment. I just grabbed the dog and got out of the apartment. The smoke alarm in my unit is very loud, but it didn’t go off,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, her family and Kirby are safe, but their home was damaged by smoke and water after flames destroyed six other units at the Andorra Apartments in Indio.

“It’s heartbreaking and sad. A lot of people lost their homes and stuff,” said Gonzalez.

The fire department said 21 people are without a home and are getting help from the Red Cross, including hotel rooms, food and toiletries. The fire caused an estimated $350,000 in damage.

The Andorra Apartments manager said the units will be repaired as soon as possible.

Gonzalez will stay in a model unit at the Andorra complex for now.

“They need to make sure the smoke alarms are perfectly and properly installed for future reference,” said Gonzalez.

“If you don’t do something there’s going to be a catastrophe,” said human rights attorney Michael Harrington.

The City of Indio told us its working with Cal Fire to evaluate code enforcement inspections to ensure fire alarms and smoke detectors at buildings like andorra and throughout the city are safe.

“Fire department, city of Indio, start going to these building to enforce these codes. Develop an administrative plan and advisory group, empower tenants to a place these are safe,” said Harrington.

Indio Mayor Lupe Ramos-Watson said community outreach is constant to keep residents aware and safe.