Investigators ask for public's help in determining cause of Redwood City fire – NBC Bay Area

Fire investigators are asking for the public's help to help them determine the cause of last week's massive Redwood City fire.

It destroyed most of a housing project under construction and came dangerously close to homes.

The Menlo Park Fire Protection District is requesting video and home surveillance footage that captured the early stages of the fire to help determine the cause.

Meanwhile, it hasn't been an easy week for residents who say the smell of smoke is still present inside their homes.

“We haven't gotten back yet, my wife and son have asthma,” said James Smith, whose home was dangerously close to the fire. “They come in, their chest is tight, we're just going to have to wait until they clean the house… I had to go to the VA hospital for smoke inhalation, on top of that, I was watching the Ring camera, It was a little difficult to watch, my wife was in this panic.

The fire was reported around 10:15 a.m. on June 3.

“I saw some smoke on the top right, it was coming out of a window, then there were dryer vents next to it, then another window, then a dryer vent, then another window, now it comes out of the ground behind a window, it was kind of doing this zigzag, up and down, it wasn't long before the flames were shooting out,” Smith said.

His wife took a photo at 10:32 a.m. showing Smith looking at the smoke while holding a hose.

“I just started saturating these houses,” he said.

Authorities are seeking photos and videos from the early stages of the fire.

“For an investigation, we want to have as many facts as possible so we can come up with an accurate timeline,” said Jon Johnson, division fire chief for the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.

Meanwhile, Smith hopes to see more responses from the county.

“We just want to see the county here, and we just want to know that they care and we haven't seen anyone other than these flyers, they put them up,” he said.

Anyone with information, photos or videos is asked to contact the Menlo Park Fire District at [email protected].