Bakersfield firefighters are investigating the cause of a two-alarm fire at the Jade residence hotel that caused the building to be evacuated.

City Fire Battalion Chief John Frando says a crew from nearby Fire Station 2 saw smoke coming from a third-floor unit on East 21st and Baker streets around 10:15 Thursday morning. They knocked it down in about 15 minutes but 11 residents were displaced.

Damage is estimated at $250,000.

Kelli Forsch