Labor Day did not start very well for thirteen residents at the Spring House Apartments in Newport News, Virginia. A resident walking his dog spotted a fire shortly before 6:45 am, and called 911 from his cell phone.
When Newport News firefighters arrived on the scene at 6:49 a.m., they found an eight-unit apartment building with two units fully involved.
The crew quickly made an offensive attack until the fire compromised the structural integrity of the building and the attack changed to defensive. Although the fire was already through the roof and engulfing two units, the firefighters managed to protect the other 6 units from direct fire damage.
Prior to units arriving on the scene, a woman who was five months pregnant had jumped from a second story window to escape the flames. Fortunately, neither she nor her unborn baby were injured. However, she lost a diamond ring that was left to her by her aunt during her escape.
Newport News firefighters searched through the rubble until the diamond ring was retrieved, returning it to the grateful woman.
All the residents managed to escape the building unharmed and received assistance from the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
