Officials: 7 families forced out of home after Jackson apartment fire
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Ice dripped off the rubble Monday after a fire burned through a building Sunday night at Park Ridge Apartment. Seven families are without a place to call home. Neighbors who saw the flames said it made for a scary night. “We immediately got the kids and got out, and my car was parked in the front, and I moved my car,” resident Laquita Hill said. Firefighters said the damage could have been even worse due to Sunday night’s winds, but fast-working crews who were able to fight the flames from above kept it from spreading. “I called for an evacuation of the building for them to start on that, and then we got here on the scene,” Jackson Fire Department Battalion Chief Johnny Brantley said. “We noticed most of the fire was located on the second floor.” Residents came out to the building Monday to see if there was anything they could salvage, but they said they are just thankful everyone made it out safely. “Everyone made it out safely, and you can always get material stuff back, but you can’t get life back,” Tara Polk said. Brantley said although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, they do warn about staying warm during winter. “People are going to stay warm, and I understand that,” Brantley said. “They just need to be conscious of how they use their heaters and any combustibles nearby.” The American Red Cross said it is working with these families to assist with necessities and living situations.
