Residents displaced after apartment fire

Fire crews roll up hoses after extinguishing a fire at an apartment building on Camelot Drive Wednesday morning, Feb. 16, 2011 in Fairfield, Ohio.

Nick Graham/Staff photographer Fire crews roll up hoses after extinguishing a fire at an apartment building on Camelot Drive Wednesday morning, Feb. 16, 2011 in Fairfield, Ohio.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Nick Graham/Staff photographer Fire crews roll up hoses after extinguishing a fire at an apartment building on Camelot Drive Wednesday morning, Feb. 16, 2011 in Fairfield, Ohio.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Kelsey Cano, Staff Writer Updated 12:00 PM Wednesday, February 16, 2011

FAIRFIELD — At least 10 people are displaced after six apartment units were damaged by a fire that started in a clothes dryer.

Fairfield firefighters were dispatched at 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16 to the apartment building fire at 5465 Camelot Drive, said Fairfield Fire Capt. Jim Howell.

Firefighters say it started in a basement-floor apartment when a dryer vent caught fire, sending flames up the wall and through the vent. Four units sustained structure damage, and two others have smoke damage, Howell said.

Firefighters had the fire under control in about 10 minutes. It caused at least $25,000 in damages, he said.

William McGregor, who lives with his brother and father in one apartment, was asleep when he smelled smoke about 6:30 a.m., he said. He called 911 and ran outside. His neighbor, who lived in the unit where the fire started, ran outside about the same time.

As far as his family’s belongings inside the apartment, McGregor said “most of it” was destroyed by the fire.

While McGregor and his neighbors were outside waiting for fire crews, other tenants were still inside. John Cavin, who lives in one of the apartments, said he was asleep when he heard sirens.

“The next thing I know, I’m being evacuated,” he said.

Once he was awake, he said he was then able to smell smoke. He said he recently took down his smoke alarm since it repeatedly sounded, and falsely.

Cavin’s apartment wasn’t destroyed, but he said items in his closet were lost when crews had to go into his hall closet to combat the fire between walls.

He said he saw drywall, foam and insulation everywhere when he was allowed to re-enter his apartment to grab some clothes.

Cavin and his roommate, Tony, plan to stay with Cavin’s sister in Cincinnati for the night, he said.

While Cavin has plans to relocate for the night, others were seeking help through the Red Cross, which was on the scene.

Ron Baker, homeowner’s association president, said his main concern was “getting places for people to live.”

“They’re all calm, but they just don’t know what they’re going to do. Finances are tight,” he said.

He was looking at other buildings in the complex for vacancies to place any families. He found one, but was still looking for options for other families.

“It breaks your heart — people are suddenly tossed out of their home in the middle of the night,” Baker said.

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