Janet Black (Full Name: Janet Linne Black) Died After Being Hospitalized Following Apartment Fire on Gordon Street in Redwood City
REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA (December 13, 2025) – A woman identified as Janet Black has tragically died in a Redwood City apartment fire on Gordon Street.
San Mateo County officials are saying that the incident began around 6:20 PM on November 30. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene to help Janet Black.
She was found severely injured inside of her apartment unit and taken to the hospital in critical condition. She continued to receive treatment at the hospital but was later pronounced dead on December 5.
Authority said that there was limited access for entering or leaving the apartment. A full investigation into the Redwood City apartment fire that killed Janet Black remains ongoing.
Liability for Redwood City Apartment Fires
Property owners in California have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. According to California Civil Code 1714, “Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts, but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person, except so far as the latter has, willfully or by want of ordinary care, brought the injury upon himself or herself.” There are many ways that an apartment owner may have breached their duty of care and contributed to a person’s injuries in a residential fire.
- Smoke Alarms: An apartment may have missing or nonfunctional smoke detectors. Apartment owners are supposed to periodically check the smoke detectors of their units and ensure that they’re in working order.
- Sprinklers: An apartment may lack required sprinkler systems. It is also possible that the water supply valves for the sprinkler systems were poorly maintained and nonfunctional.
- Blocked Exits: Apartments must have clear and unobstructed exits. When exits to an apartment are obstructed, this could create a fire hazard.
- Known Hazards: Apartment owners may fail to address known hazards with their property. For example, they may have allowed fire marshal citations to go uncorrected.
If an apartment owner has actual or constructive notice about a dangerous condition with their property, they must take action. Failing to take action to protect residents from a known hazard could form the basis of a premises liability claim. Even if a property owner did not contribute to a fire directly, this does not mean they are not responsible for injuries or death. One of the major contributing factors of apartment fires is building code violations that make it difficult to enter or exit a unit.
Steps to Take After Redwood City Apartment Fires
Far too many people are killed or seriously injured in residential fires each year. Though the number of apartment fire deaths has continued to fall. According to the National Fire Protection Association, “The 2023 estimate of fires in apartments or other multifamily structures was 47 percent lower than in 1980. Apartment fires fell 4 percent from 80,000 in 2022 to 76,500 in 2023, continuing an overall decline since 2020.” It is important that certain steps are taken after any apartment fire.
- Evidence Preservation: All of the evidence associated with the fire should be carefully preserved. In particular, the source of the fire should be determined.
- Building Records: All of the building records associated with the apartment that caught fire should be collected.
- Identify Defendants: All of the potential defendants related to the apartment fire should be identified. For example, this may include a property management company, maintenance contractors, and appliance manufacturers.
- Independent Review: Any apartment fire that causes serious injury or death should be carefully reviewed by a legal team with ample experience in tort claims.
It can be difficult to know where to begin after any apartment fire. Victims are often left with critical injuries that impair their ability to be gainfully employed. Families often contend with the sudden and tragic loss of a loved one. Victims of apartment fires do have rights. In particular, the family of any person who died in an apartment fire may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Redwood City Apartment Fires
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Janet Black. Any person who may have more information should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar tragedies at this location. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. When was the last time this residence was properly inspected? What was the initial source of the fire?
Do you need more information about a Redwood City apartment fire? Our team of residential fire investigators is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
