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Dec. 02--A fire in a downtown Logan apartment complex has left at least 25 people homeless.
The fire happened in the Foxx Apartment building at 411 Stratton Street in downtown Logan just down the street from the old Capitol Theater building and City Bakery.
Firefighters were called out shortly before 5 p.m. to the fire and battled it until late last night.
The firefighters feared the blaze might spread to the adjacent apartment buildings and burn down the whole block.
The apartment fire is the fifth major structure fire in the city of Logan in three years.
Just a little over a year ago, the Aracoma Hotel building burned and then, on Thanksgiving night, it collapsed, shutting down city streets for weeks.
Logan Mayor Serafino Nolletti was on the scene from the time the fire started until late last night. He said he's glad the firefighters were able to contain the fire to save the rest of the city block.
"It's another tragedy right here at Christmas time again," Nolletti said. "This has happened at the worst time possible. Our main concern now is to contain the fire to just one building."
Firefighters from across Logan and Boone counties worked to extinguish the fire.
Logan Police Chief E.K. Harper was also on the scene and he said that everyone got out of the burning building safely.
"We evacuated all the apartments because there is one common roof for all the rest of these apartments," Harper said. "I'd say we have 75 people who were evacuated from these apartments."
A Red Cross worker said a shelter had been set up in the basement of the First Christian Church of Logan and another report said a shelter had been set up at the First Baptist Church of Logan's fellowship hall.
The Red Cross worker said there were 17 families left homeless. Everyone inside escaped without injury. Many stood on the street, unable to do anything except watch as the firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.
Nolletti said he hopes the Logan Christmas Parade, scheduled for today, will still make its way through the city this afternoon. He said if Stratton Street has to be blocked off due to the fire, the parade will most likely turn at McCormick's and miss the 400 block of Stratton Street.
Nolletti was still on the scene at 9:30 p.m., watching firefighters put out hot spots in the structure.
The Foxx Apartments are just a few doors down from the old Capitol Theater and City Bakery buildings.
The cause of the fire had not been determined as of press time today.
