LONOKE, Ark. (KARK) --
A Saturday morning fire at an apartment building killed one person, injured others and left nearly a dozen people without a home.
It happened in the heart of Lonoke at the 5th Street Apartments on the corner of Wright and E. 5th Street around 3:15 Saturday morning.
The Lonoke fire chief described the scene as a very fluid scene, so the exact number of people taken to the hospital with injuries may fluctuate over time. But as of Saturday evening, the fire chief said he believes around 3 people had to go to the hospital and paramedics treated some people including kids at the scene.
The Lonoke Police Chief confirmed at least 1 woman now is fighting her injuries at a burn unit and 1 adult, male died.
Sylvester Williams said, "We lost everything. It's our second time around for me but it's going to be ok. The Lord always in the blessing business."
Investigators snapped photos while Sylvester Williams prays next to his melted cars just hours after escaping a fire that killed his neighbor.
"I kind of wish (that) I asked him his name now because you never know when you're going to see someone for the last time," Williams said.
Lonoke Fire said the call came in as a kitchen fire at the 5th Street Apartments. The County Fire Marshal will investigate the exact cause of the fire.
Williams said, "A positive attitude will take you a whole lot further than anything. So, I praise Him for my good and my bad."
He leaned on his faith and humor for strength as we talked with him Saturday afternoon.
"I'm standing here with my sister's Crocs on and her shirt. But I made it. I made it," Williams told us as he smiled.
He said neighbors like himself jumped out of windows for their lives. He described saving his disabled grandson.
"We had to go back to the room that I drug him from to try to break the glass to get him out of the house," the grandfather said.
We met Lloyd Nichols who managed the apartments.
Nichols said, "Thank God for the ones that did come out. I'm just overwhelmed."
He talked with us as investigators combed through the scene.
"If I could bring back the one in number 4 I would. You just can's," Nichols said as emotion showed on his face.
he told us nearly a dozen other tenants lost everything but their lives.
"If anyone could donate something for these school kids 'cause they lost everything," he said.
The American Red Cross went to the apartments to help the victims.
Williams said, "God be to glory for life."
He gave thanks to the officers who helped pull his family to safety, the neighbor who woke him up and a third chance to start all over.
People can drop off donations at the Lonoke PD or the community center.
The Lonoke Police Department is located at 203 Front St. SW, Lonoke, Arkansas.
The community center is located at 1355 Front St. SW, Lonoke, Arkansas.
Police Chief Randy Mauk said people who want to donate Money will have to wait until Monday so they can set up a bank account for the victims.
Chief Mauk said the children impacted range from infant to 14-years-old.
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Lonoke fire leaves families displaced, One dead
The Lonoke Fire Department said a call about a fire at the 5th Street Apartment complex came in around 3 a.m. Saturday morning, August 18.
Author: Vanessa Paige
August 19, 2018
LONOKE COUNTY, Ark. (KTHV) - “My wife and I was just laying asleep and heard this bumping at the door,” said Sylvester Williams.
The knocking Williams heard was his neighbor, warning him that a fire broke out at this apartment home. His first instinct was to save his 19-year-old grandson who is disabled.
“I tried to get my grandson to bring him out the front door but couldn’t get him, so we had to go back to the room that I drug him from to try to break the glass,” said Williams.
His wife, daughter and grandson who all live in the 5th Street Apartments in Lonoke got out OK. But for one resident that wasn’t the case.
“I kind of wished I would have asked him his name now because you never know when you’re going to see somebody for the last time,” said Williams.
Lonoke Fire Chief, Justin Whittenburg, confirmed that one person died in the fire. He also said that multiple people were injured.
The department said a call came in around 3 a.m., Saturday morning, August 18, with the caller saying a kitchen fire broke out at the Lonoke complex on the 200th block of East Fifth Street.
Williams said he’s only lost things that can be replaced.
“I’m standing here with my sister’s crocks on and her shirt. But I made it. I made it,” he said.
His vehicles melted in the heat, but he has a positive outlook.
“Material things are just material things,” said Williams.
The apartment manager, Lloyd Nichols, never imagined a tragedy happening at the recently remodeled complex.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Nichols. “I just give thanks to God that some of them made it out.”
Nichols is working with the community to get families what they need. Donations are being collected at the Lonoke Police Department and the Community Center.The Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.