A 20-unit apartment building burned for about an before firemen were able to extinguish it. The started in the attic at about 10:30 p.m. evening. The damage was estimated at $1.5 million. fire department spokesman said the fire might have set deliberately.
The tenant who first saw the banged loudly on the door of every unit the building. Occupants of 15 units were already bed or preparing for bed. No one responded the other five units because the tenants were home. Those tenants who were home escaped with more than the clothes on their backs, their , their cell phones, and their laptops.
Many tenants across the street to watch the fire from safe distance. They were all hoping that their would be spared. Some of the pets were disturbed by the noise, crowds, flames, and smoke their owners could not hold on to them. clawed their way out of their owners’ arms dashed away. The younger children were similarly frightened. cried in their parents’ arms.
Two fire engines at 10:45 p.m., but the entire roof was by then. Smoke and flames were visible in of the units on the top floor.
At 11:35 p.m. the flames were extinguished. Most of roof had disappeared. The top floor of the -story building was about 80 percent gone. Water was into the ground-floor units, ruining most of them. tenants were crying or speechless. They were happy be alive, but now they had no home. were they going to live?
Firemen discovered a gasoline can in the attic. This was the suspicious apartment fire in a month.