Dozens evacuated after apartment complex fire

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Residents in a Fort Wayne apartment complex were forced to evacuate early Thursday morning after a fire started above a second-story apartment.

Just after midnight a motorist along East Paulding Road noticed smoke and flames coming from the roof of a building at the Twin Oaks Apartments.

The first arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from a portion of building 2708P.

Crews began an aggressive attack to try and keep the fire from spreading throughout the entire building.

But the type of building slowed the initial attempt.

"It was a little bit difficult to get to," said Fort Wayne Fire Department Chief Amy Biggs. “That was a result of the structure and how it was constructed. It has what we (FWFD) call a floor-to-attic space so it made it difficult to get to from the interior side."

Crews eventually took additional tools inside to get into the attic. Biggs said the building’s fire walls were intact and even through firefighters were concerned with the fire spreading on the roof, they were able to contain it to a few units.

Biggs said most residents had evacuated before crews arrived. She was unsure how many total residents were in the building at the time of the fire. It was also unclear if the apartment closest to the fire was occupied.

Biggs said any occupants inside that apartment might not have even known there was a fire initially.

The Red Cross of Northeast Indiana was called to assist with displaced residents who will not be allowed to return to their homes.

FWFD Spokesperson Stacey Fleming said there was heavy smoke damage throughout the building and did not know when residents would be allowed to return. Fire officials did escort residents back to their apartments to collect any items they might have wanted or needed in the meantime.

Paramedics with Three Rivers Ambulance Authority provided blankets to residents who stood outside because of cold temperatures. Other residents left the area or were in their vehicles seeking heat.

There were no injuries.

A second-alarm was dispatched to the scene due to the size of the building. In all, about 40 firefighters helped fight the fire. The fire under control in about 50 minutes.

A cause of the fire has not been determined.

East Paulding Road was closed in front of the complex for about three hours while crews battled the fire.