Alameda police arrested an apartment resident on suspicion of arson following a two-alarm fire Wednesday morning at a two-story complex, which firefighters say is severely destroyed.
Police took David Prado, 45, into custody on charges of arson following the 2:47 a.m. fire in the 3200 block of Briggs Avenue at High Street.
Neighbors said Prado had a history of some psychiatric issues.
Alameda Fire Capt. Mike DeGrano said the fire was raging so hard at one point that crews had to rescue one person off a balcony. A firefighter sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital. Three others suffered minor injuries.
The fire was contained just after 5 a.m.
Residents said Prado has had run-ins with apartment managers before, and one neighbor said the man clogged the pipes in his apartment recently. Prado had also been taken to a psychiatric facility, neighbors said, in the recent past.
"He flooded the whole house," one man said. "Water was running and leaking everywhere."
The American Red Cross was on scene helping six of the residents. Firefighters estimated the damage to the building was at least $800,000.
