Response: 15 pieces of heavy fire equipment, 60 firefighters

Times: 1^st alarm – 5:26 a.m. 2^nd alarm – 5:32 a.m. 3^rd alarm – 5:54 a.m.

Under control @ 7:38 a.m.

Cause: Electrical Short in the attic

Injuries: None

Damage: $150,000 – Structure

$ 90,000 – Contents

Details: All of the residents were able to escape without injury but their 2-story apartment building sustained heavy damage as a result of the early morning fire. First arriving firefighters reported heavy smoke with fire already showing from the attic area. Initially, an interior attack was made to try to reduce the fire spread in the attic, but as the roof weakened, the order was given to remove all firefighters from inside. The building had 8 individual apartment units, 4 on each floor. The fire damage was primarily on the 2^nd floor but the 1^st floor units suffered heavy smoke and water damage. Displaced residents used a DART bus as a temporary shelter to protect them from the below freezing temperatures. The American Red Cross was on the scene to help 20 of the displaced residents find temporary housing. Once the fire was brought under control, investigators were able to move inside to finish their work, while firefighters escorted some of the residents inside to see if they could salvage any of their valuables, especially important papers and medications. The cause of the fire has been determined as an electrical short and there were no injuries reported during this incident.

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