South Huntsville Apartment Fire Destroys 16 Units

Residents of 16 apartments in South Huntsville, Alabama, are without homes after a fire ripped through an apartment building early Tuesday, Oct. 6. It was the second apartment fire in that part of the city in about 10 days.

What happened

Huntsville Fire and Rescue units were called shortly after 1 a.m. to an apartment complex on SW Meadowbrook Drive, just off Memorial Parkway, after several 911 callers reported flames coming from one of the buildings, according to WZDX/FOX54, which identified the complex as Indigo at Grissom. Video from the scene showed fire pushing through the roof, and WAFF reported multiple firefighters working near the complex.

The Huntsville Police Department told WHNT News 19 that the fire started in a middle unit of building 19 and spread through the entire building.

Who was affected

Huntsville Fire and Rescue District Chief Jay Gates said the residents of 16 apartments were displaced, WHNT reported, and the apartments were described as a complete loss. Police said no people or pets were injured. The total number of residents affected had not been released as of Tuesday morning.

Response and aid

The American Red Cross was on scene helping displaced residents. The agency typically provides emergency lodging, food, clothing and other basic needs, along with help planning next steps.

Cause

The cause had not been determined, and investigators remained on scene Tuesday morning. Officials had not said whether the building had sprinklers or whether smoke alarms sounded.

A second fire in 10 days

On Saturday night, Sept. 26, firefighters responded at about 8:15 p.m. to Cambridge Court Apartments, west of the Memorial Parkway and Lily Flagg intersection, WAFF reported. That fire stayed mostly in one apartment of a 12-unit building, and all residents got out, but two dogs died. Firefighters rescued four other dogs. One resident was taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation and was expected to recover. Huntsville Fire and Rescue Capt. Cory Green said crews were glad to have saved the other four dogs. The Red Cross also assisted residents, and the cause of that fire remains under investigation.

What renters can do now

When a fire starts in a middle unit and spreads through an entire building, residents of every apartment can lose their homes in minutes. For tenants in South Huntsville and anywhere else, a few steps can make a big difference:

• Have a pet plan. Keep leashes and carriers near the door, and put a rescue sticker on a window so firefighters know animals may be inside. Never go back into a burning building for a pet; tell firefighters instead.
• Test smoke alarms monthly. Press the test button, replace batteries as needed, and report missing or broken alarms to your landlord in writing so there is a record of the request.
• Carry renters insurance. It can replace belongings and pay for a hotel while you look for a new place. Your landlord's policy does not cover your possessions.
• If you are displaced, document everything. Photograph the damage when it is safe, keep receipts for emergency spending, and ask management in writing about prorated rent, your security deposit and whether you can transfer to another unit.
• Replace documents early. Request replacement IDs, Social Security cards and benefit cards as soon as possible; the Red Cross can help with referrals.

Residents affected by the Meadowbrook Drive fire can contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS. Neighbors in other buildings at the complex may also want to check that their own smoke alarms work and that hallways and stairwells are clear, since a fire in one building can quickly put nearby residents on alert.