Huntsville Apartment Fire Displaces About 15 Families

Around 15 households in Huntsville, Alabama, are searching for somewhere to live after a fire tore through a building at the Governors House apartment community late on Halloween night. Nobody was reported hurt, but firefighters said trouble with the complex's own hydrants complicated the response.

What happened

Huntsville Fire & Rescue was dispatched to the complex at 4611 Governors House Drive SW on Saturday, Oct. 31, shortly after 10 p.m. Local stations differ by a few minutes on the exact time, putting the call at about 10:15 p.m. or just after 10:30 p.m. Crews arrived to find smoke and flames showing, and eight to 10 fire units ended up on the scene.

Fox 54 reported that one building was destroyed. Firefighters kept the flames from spreading to neighboring buildings despite wind that worried crews. WAFF described the property as a 16-unit complex.

The hydrant problem

The detail that stands out for tenants is the water supply. Huntsville Fire & Rescue Capt. Cory Green said the complex maintains its own hydrants and that crews ran into problems with them, which made putting out the fire harder. He also said firefighters still got the blaze under control in what he called a good time. WAFF reported that the privately maintained hydrant system was not working properly.

Officials have not said why the hydrants fell short, and no one has publicly assigned blame. The cause of the fire is also still under investigation, so it would be premature to connect the two.

How many people are affected

Reports disagree on the size of the loss. WAFF and other local outlets say about 15 families were displaced. Fox 54, working from fire-scene information, put it at about 16. Until the fire department or the property publishes a final count, treat the figure as roughly 15 to 16 households.

Help for displaced residents

The American Red Cross is working with the apartment management team. Malinda Williams, who leads the Red Cross chapter for North Alabama, told WAFF the group is helping families find temporary housing and is giving financial assistance to anyone who lost belongings. She said it can also cover medical needs such as replacing a CPAP machine or medication. United Way and the Salvation Army are lined up to move donated items to families once a needs list is released.

The reports did not include a donation link or a phone number, so affected residents should contact the Red Cross or the property office directly for the latest instructions.

What this means for renters

• Ask about hydrants and fire protection. In many complexes the owner, not the city, maintains the hydrants on the property. Ask your manager how often they are tested and who is responsible. Your local fire marshal may be able to tell you.
• Check your renters insurance. A landlord's policy covers the building, not your belongings or the cost of a hotel. Many renters policies include loss-of-use coverage; see our guide to renters insurance after a fire if you are unsure.
• Keep key documents reachable. Prescriptions, ID and your lease are the hardest things to replace in a hurry. Our first-72-hours checklist walks through the steps.
• Know your lease rights. Whether rent stops and when you can end the lease after a fire depends on your lease and Alabama law, so read both and put requests to management in writing.

This is the second recent Huntsville apartment fire on this site; an earlier blaze in a different complex is covered in South Huntsville Apartment Fire Destroys 16 Units. We will update this story if officials name a cause or confirm how many households lost their homes.