Dec. 10--Scores of elderly and infirm residents of a South Richmond apartment complex made their way to safety Monday night as a fire of undetermined origin drew some two-dozen pieces of fire and rescue units.
The second-floor blaze and heavy smoke set off fire alarms and automatically shut fire doors, said residents, who huddled together in the cold and were escorted to the warmth of GRTC buses rushed to the scene, across from George Wythe High School on Crutchfield Street.
"We are OK; my friends are all OK," said Mamie Staples, 68, who went from her third-floor apartment to the second floor where she knew friends in wheelchairs would need help. "I banged on the doors to make sure they knew they needed to get out."
Elizabeth Hays, 98, was able to find shelter in the warmth of a car outside the Charnwood Forest Apartments wearing only a thin dress after walking down a stairwell to safety.
The orderly evacuation left scores of residents outside the three-story building waiting for assistance as firefighters and rescue workers triaged persons most at risk and helped escort residents to waiting buses.
Richmond Fire Lt. Robbie Hagaman said the first units arrived at the scene within four minutes of the first fire call at 6:41 p.m. and that the fire was declared under control just before 8 p.m.
Residents in wheelchairs and using walkers waited along Crutchfield Street as firefighters tended to persons with breathing difficulties or anxiety. Only two people needed hospital attention for smoke inhalation, Hagaman said.
"When I saw the thick black smoke I knew it was for real," said Harvey Cheatham, 65. Cheatham said he threw on whatever clothes he could find and walked through the smoke to a stairwell.
"There was no real panic, just people trying to get to safety," he said.
The source of the fire was still under investigation late Monday night.
Shortly after 10 p.m., residents were allowed to return to their apartments.
(804) 649-6601
Copyright 2013 - Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.
