11 people displaced, 10 units damaged in fire at west Lubbock apartment complex
Lubbock fire officials on Monday confirmed 11 people were displaced in a two-alarm fire Friday afternoon at a west Lubbock apartment complex.
No injuries were reported from the fire that was reported just before 12:50 p.m. Friday at the Branchwater Apartments on 4th Street near West Loop 289, according to a statement from Lubbock Fire Rescue.
LFR Capt. Phillip Grandon said maintenance personnel and residents initially reported a smoke odor in the building. LFR crews arrived on scene to find the two-story, multi-unit apartment building with visible smoke. Fire crews reported the fire was in the attic space.
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At 12:57 p.m., a second alarm was called to have extra units respond.
Crews worked to evacuate the building and extinguish the fire.
Grandon said the fire spread rapidly throughout the attic space and fire crews pulled out to fight the fire from outside the building. The roof collapsed on parts of the structure, causing crews to fight the fire with aerial ladder streams. Although the fire was extinguished, with all apartments cleared at 3:09 p.m., LFR crews remained at the scene to monitor the situation deep into Friday evening.
The Lubbock Fire Marshal's Office classified the cause of the blaze as undetermined due to the extensive damage, however, criminal activity was ruled out as a cause, Grandon said. In total, 10 units were damaged by the fire, with 65% of the structure damaged. As of Monday afternoon, property management was working with insurance for further action on the structure.
The South Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to provide assistance to residents who were displaced.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 11 people displaced, 10 units damaged in Lubbock apartment complex fire
