OKC Apartment Complex Decimated By Fire Posted: Jun 22, 2016 10:23 PM EST Updated: Jun 23, 2016 9:49 AM EST
By Matthew Nuttle, News9.com
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -
An Oklahoma City apartment complex was severely damaged during a fire late Wednesday night.
Fire crews were called out to the Pheasant Run apartment complex, located in the 6100 block of N. Meridian Ave., just after 9 p.m. Once on scene firefighters reported seeing heavy smoke and flames pouring from the structure.
The severity of the three-alarm fire initially forced responding crews into a defensive position. As soon as the fire started to get under control, crews made their way inside to conduct searches. Luckily, all of the tenants managed to escape safely.
Officials say two firefighters were overcome by heat and needed to be transported to a local hospital for evaluation. One civilian was treated at the scene for a fall and possible leg injury.
The damage to the apartment complex was so extensive that no tenant was allowed to stay there overnight; 19 of 24 units were occupied at the time. Fire officials say 12 of the apartment units received some amount of fire damage.
Investigators say the fire caused $360,000 of damage to the building. Another $120,000 in damage was lost personal items. The cause of the fire could not be determined.
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Massive Fire In NW OKC Leaves More Than A Dozen Families Homeless Posted: Jun 26, 2016 6:39 PM EST Updated: Jun 26, 2016 6:39 PM EST
By Deanne Stein, News 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -
A massive apartment fire in northwest Oklahoma City left more than a dozen families homeless.
The fire started Wednesday night inside one of the buildings at the Pheasant Run apartment complex located near NW 63 Street and Meridian Avenue.
Alma Garcia was home watching cartoons with her two young boys when she first heard it.
“We could hear just the crackling of the wood,” she remembers.
She thought someone was just cooking outside but the crackling sound got louder. Then she felt it.
“As I get close to the firewall that we have to divide the unit, it just sounded louder, and when I put my hand there, it was hot,” she said.
Her instincts told her to grab her two young boys and get out. That's when she saw the raging fire consuming her apartment building. Firefighters battled the three alarm blaze Wednesday night where flames were seen from the ground shooting up through the roof.
“It's hard when you're a single mom and you work two jobs to provide everything that you can for your kids and everything is gone in minutes,” Garcia said.
From the heavy flames to the charred remains, there’s nothing left of what was once home to 19 families.
“I know the rest of the stuff is materialistic that can be replaced but it's just hard going through this,” she said.
Garcia is now living at a nearby hotel with her two children, but she says donations from friends and strangers are helping her get by.
“People are pulling through hard helping me out and I’m very grateful for that,” she said.
The apartment complex is working to put all displaced families in new units. Garcia hopes to be in her new apartment sometime this week. Still no word on what caused the fire.
If you would like to leave donations for the families, you can bring them to the Pheasant Run rental office located at 6100 N. Meridian Avenue.