Operations & Training

New Orleans Firefighters Tackle 3-Alarm Residential Blaze

Sept. 1, 2020

Flames from the large fire that broke out in a two-story apartment complex in the city's Garden District engulfed the entire roof and spread to a neighboring home.

By Katelyn Umholtz

Source The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

New Orleans firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze that broke out in a two-story apartment complex in the city's Garden District late Monday.

A two-story Garden District apartment complex went up in flames from one end to the other Monday night and was evacuated onto Washington Avenue and Carondelet streets.

The New Orleans Fire Department said the 3-alarm blaze at the 25-unit, U-shaped building was first reported around 8:40 p.m. by firefighters, who said 20 units were occupied at the start of the fire.

Everyone from the building evacuated safely, and none of the complex's residents or firefighters were injured, NOFD Chief Tim McConnell said.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, but McConnell said the fire spread rapidly through the attic, which lacked any common walls usually in buildings to help contain the spread of a blaze.

"Unfortunately, the fire had a tremendous head start on us," McConnell said.

At one point, nearly the entire roof of the apartment building was engulfed in flames and spread to a neighboring house.

Around 10 p.m., firefighters had the fire at the right side of the complex and the other residence under control, but they were still working to contain what spread to the complex's left side.

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