San Rafael Apartment Fire Update: Investigators say structure declared a crime scene, structure is ‘dangerous and hazardous’

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KGO) — New details were released Saturday on a deadly apartment fire in San Rafael.

Two people remain missing, and the dozens of people displaced have moved into temporary housing.

Investigators say it is too dangerous to go inside what’s left of the complex.

“Yesterday evening’s work inside of the complex became hazardous, as a few of the locations were identified as unstable. Today, more resources have arrived,” said Sergeant Justin Graham with the San Rafael Police Department.

He has been on scene since Thursday where a fire broke out and quickly spread through a 19-unit apartment complex in the city’s Canal District. Within minutes, the entire complex was engulfed in flames. Some escaped by jumping out of windows and off balconies.

RELATED: Remains discovered at site of ‘suspicious’ San Rafael apartment building fire, officials say

One person broke their legs but is recovering, according to officials.

Graham said crews are trying to prop up the building so investigators can go in.

“I had an opportunity today to actually go into the complex, and I can tell you that the devastation is extensive. It is extremely dangerous and hazardous. What workers are having to deal with is just astonishing,” Graham said.

The fact that the fire spread so quickly has officials calling this fire suspicious. It also preserves the area as a crime scene.

“We don’t know cause or origin. So, we want to be able to know what that is. Part of calling this a suspicious fire allows us to do what you see behind us. Where we use the resources to conduct a very thorough investigation and keep the integrity of the scene maintained,” Graham said.

RELATED: 8 injured, 2 missing, 55 displaced after massive fire destroys San Rafael apartment building

One dead body was found Friday afternoon on the backside of the complex. Graham says it will take the Marin County Coroner’s Office some time to identity the deceased. So, officials still don’t know if that person is one of the two missing people, or a new third person.

Meanwhile, the 55 residents who were displaced were all moved out of a nearby shelter and into temporary housing.

“I think they are going through various stages of shock and grief as to be expected. But also, really grateful at the support that they are seeing. And that they are being given the opportunity to get back on their feet,” said Quinn Gardner, deputy director of Emergency Management for the City of San Rafael.

Gardner met with survivors on Friday evening. She said the goal is to get them into more permanent housing starting next week.

“We’ve got about five juveniles within the displaced group, so making sure those folks can stay in their school district and continue to receive as much stability as possible, is really important. And that’s one of the reasons it could take up to a month to find those units,” Gardner said.

Soil samples are also being collected to try to determine if it uncovers any accelerants. The waterway behind the burned apartment complex is being tested as well.

Officials are asking anyone with video of the area from Thursday morning between 5 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. to share those with law enforcement. They say they are trying to determine why this fire spread as fast as it did.

Crews are expected to continue their onsite investigation through Monday.