Hoover, AL: Haven Apartments Fire Hits 12 Units, 22 Displaced

A fire that broke out before sunrise on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, damaged a dozen apartments at The Haven Apartments in Hoover, Alabama, and left at least 20 people without a place to stay. Everyone got out of the building, and no injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.

What happened at The Haven

According to WBRC, the call came in at 4:59 a.m. for a three-story building in the 2900 block of Chace Lake Drive. Crews arrived to heavy fire and had it under control within about 45 minutes. WVTM 13 reported that roughly 12 units were affected by flames, smoke or water. Local outlets differ slightly on where the complex sits: most place it on Chace Lake Drive, while ABC 33/40 described it as near Highway 31 and John Hawkins Parkway.

The Hoover Fire Department said the cause is still being investigated, and no official cause has been given.

How many people were displaced

Reports do not agree on the total. WBRC reported that the American Red Cross counted about 20 displaced residents, while ABC 33/40 later reported that 22 people were left without homes. WVTM 13 did not give a figure. This article uses both numbers rather than picking one: the count appears to be at least 20 and may be 22.

Help for residents

The Red Cross of Alabama sent volunteers who offered emotional support and financial assistance. The organization also worked with a partner called Hatching Hope, which supplied disaster kits that included air mattresses, sheets and toiletries. A Red Cross spokesperson, David Rauch, told WBRC that apartment fires are the most common disaster the agency responds to in Alabama. Anyone who needs help can call the Red Cross of Alabama at 1-800-RED CROSS.

Two more fires in Hoover

The Haven was not the only blaze that weekend. At about 7:30 p.m. the same Sunday, firefighters were called to a two-story townhome at 422 Chase Plantation Parkway. ABC 33/40 reported that crews found heavy smoke and flames, brought the fire under control quickly, and that six people were displaced with no injuries. The cause there is also under investigation.

On Monday, Oct. 19, ABC 33/40 reported a small kitchen fire at the Onyx Apartments near Rocky Ridge Road and Ridge Manor Drive. Firefighters contained it, damage was limited to cabinets, there was no structural involvement and no one was hurt. The station's headline called it the third apartment fire in Hoover in two days, but its report described only these two apartment fires, and we could not confirm details of any other incident. There is no indication that the fires are connected.

What this means for renters

A sudden displacement is hard to plan for, but a few steps matter most in the first hours:

• Contact the Red Cross early. Financial help and emergency supplies are usually available to people displaced by a fire, even when the damage is limited to part of a building.
• Talk to property management about alternative housing. Ask in writing whether a vacant unit, a hotel stay or a rent credit is available, and how long it will last.
• Call your renters insurer. Many policies include loss-of-use coverage for hotel and food costs. Our guide to renters insurance after a fire explains what to ask.
• Save every receipt and photograph whatever you can once the building is cleared for entry.

Rauch also offered prevention tips that apply well beyond Hoover as the weather cools. Test your smoke alarms, have a fire escape plan and know two ways out of every room. If you use a space heater, stay in the room while it runs, keep it well away from anything that can burn, and plug it directly into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord.

Residents of the building who have not yet heard from management should ask for the status of their unit and for a written timeline on repairs. Because the investigation is open, tenants should not assume anything about fault. If officials later identify a cause, the details may affect insurance claims and whether a landlord owes tenants anything beyond what the lease requires.

We will update this story if the Hoover Fire Department releases a cause or if the displaced count is clarified.