A fire, apparently started by a plumber repairing a bathroom, displaced 18 residents of Bay View Villas Apartments on Tuesday, Benicia Fire Division Chief K.C. Smith said Wednesday.

Firefighters were called to the apartment complex at 900 Southampton Road about 10:28 a.m. Tuesday after someone reported a structure fire in Unit 65.

“The fire department responded with a first alarm assignment, including resources from the city of Vallejo and Fairfield,” Smith said.

Benicia Engine 11 was the first vehicle to arrive, and firefighters discovered people were still inside the burning apartment, he said.

They also found a large amount of smoke and fire in the walls and attic of the two-story, multi-family building, he said.

“It took 27 firefighters approximately 30 minutes to bring the fire under control,” Smith said.

All of the seven individual apartments in the building suffered either direct or indirect damage from the fire, he said.

Of the 18 people who were displaced, six are receiving help with temporary housing from the American Red Cross, Smith said.

Neither the residents nor any firefighter was hurt, he said.

“The fire was started by a plumber soldering a repair in a upstairs bathroom,” he said, and a damage estimate has not been completed.

Benicia police and Medic Ambulance Company helped Benicia, Vallejo and Fairfield fire departments and the American Red Cross in handling the incident, Smith said.

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