A two-alarm fire which destroyed multiple units has been ruled as accidental according to the Boise Fire Department.
The fire sparked after 6 p.m. at a fourplex on South Pond St. near Hillcrest Country Club.
Firefighters say everyone made it out of the apartments safely. One of the apartments has been completely destroyed, two others have considerable damage and one suffered minor damage.
Witnesses say a resident noticed a water heater was sparking and then ran to the other people living in the fourplex to warn them to get out. Shortly after that they heard an explosion and the building caught fire. At this point, crews have determined that the water heater is what caused the fire.
Firefighters are working right now to determine if any of the apartments are safe enough for families to return to this evening.
"I am glad that everyone is okay including all the animals that got out and are safe. It's just hard, I'm a single mom. I have two really little kids. All I can imagine is everything they love is gone, so that's hard," said Stephanie Elmeier whose home was damaged by the fire.
The American Red Cross and the Burnout Fund were called in to help residents impacted by the fire.
