Roanoke Apartment Roof Fire Displaces About 30 People

About 30 people lost their homes after a fire tore through the roof of an apartment complex in Roanoke, Virginia, early Sunday. Roanoke Fire-EMS said no injuries were reported, and the cause is still under investigation.

What happened

The city's 911 center dispatched crews at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, to the 2300 block of Tuckawana Circle NW. The first engine on scene, Engine 13, reported heavy fire coming through the roof of the apartment complex, according to WSLS. The response was upgraded to a two-alarm fire, sending additional units, and a battalion chief declared the fire under control at 5:29 a.m., roughly an hour and 45 minutes after the initial call.

WSET reported that the road was blocked while crews worked. WDBJ identified the property as Countryside Estates; the other reports we reviewed gave only the street address, so the complex name rests on a single source.

Who was affected

All three outlets gave the same figure: about 30 residents were displaced. WDBJ and WSLS said no injuries were reported. WSET's report did not address injuries either way. None of the reports said how many apartments were damaged, how many buildings were involved, or where the displaced residents were staying, and none mentioned the Red Cross. Those details were not public as of Monday morning.

Cause

Officials have not said what started the fire. Roof fires in multi-unit buildings can spread quickly through shared attic spaces, which is one reason a single blaze can displace residents who lived nowhere near the point of origin, but investigators have not described what happened here, and it would be premature to guess.

What this means for renters

Displacement is often the biggest cost of an apartment fire, because residents whose units were not burned can still be locked out for days or weeks for structural checks, utility repairs and smoke or water cleanup. If you live in an affected building, or want to be prepared in case you ever do, these steps can help:

• Get in touch with your property manager for the official word on when you may re-enter and how to retrieve medications, documents and pets' supplies.
• Call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS if you have nowhere to stay; local chapters often help with short-term lodging, food and replacement of essentials.
• Keep every receipt. Hotel stays, meals and replacement clothing may be reimbursable under the additional living expenses portion of a renters insurance policy.
• Photograph damage and make an inventory of belongings as soon as you are allowed back in, and file an insurance claim promptly.
• Ask about your deposit and lease. If your unit is uninhabitable, what happens to rent already paid and whether you can end your lease depends on Virginia law and the terms you signed; a legal aid office or tenant organization can walk you through it.

Why renters should plan for the paperwork

The hours after a fire are chaotic, but the weeks that follow are mostly paperwork. Landlords and their insurers typically handle the building itself, while a tenant's own belongings and temporary housing costs fall to the tenant's insurance, if they have it. Renters without a policy often have to rely on charity and savings, which is why housing counselors frequently urge tenants to buy a low-cost renters policy before anything happens. Even a basic plan can be the difference between a few nights in a hotel and weeks of scrambling.

Prevention takeaways

Overnight fires are especially dangerous because residents are asleep. Test the smoke alarm in your unit monthly, make sure you know two ways out, and sleep with your bedroom door closed, which can slow the spread of smoke and heat. If your building's alarms or sprinklers appear to be broken or missing, report it to management in writing and to the local fire marshal.

We will update this story if the fire department releases a cause, the number of damaged units or information on assistance for residents.