NEWS VIDEO -Fire Under Investigation
In Early Morning Apt Fire KCSi-T.V. News
Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) -- An early Thursday (June 26th) fire heavily damaged a NortheastJamestown, 3-story, 12-plex apartment building. (more story below video)
VIDEO FROM KCSI TV 10 - The Replay Channel
Jamestown City Fire Chief Bert Gray says, the call came in at 5:22 a.m., to 411 15th Ave NE, the north apartment structure, west of Gussner School, as all city fire units responded. Chief Gray says all City Fire Department Units responded.
At a Thursday afternoon news conference at the City Fire Hall, Fire Department Captain Jim Rether said multiple calls from apartment occupants came in at 5:22 a.m. When the units arrived about 5:29-a.m., the east entrance was fully involved in flames.
Reuther, the lead fire investigator, says Ladders were used to take 3-people out of windows on the third floor, and ground ladders were used to take 3-additional people out of main floor apartments. He adds, a second floor resident safely tossed a youngster from the window into the arms of an individual on the ground and she, then, safely jumped from the second floor window, as heat and smoke spread through the building.
Reuther says Jamestown Area Ambulance Service took 3-individuals to Jamestown
Hospital, with their conditions not known.
Jamestown Police Department, Detective, Scott Edinger, a member of the Fire Arson Task Force, says the fire started in the east, street level entryway. Smoke and heat from the spreading fire prevented residents from getting out of the building at the east and west street level exits. Smoke alarms were working in the building and were sounding to alert
residents. Edinger says fire damaged the east entry and burned upward, as the remainder of the building received extensive smoke and heat damage. Edinger says there is “reason to believe,” the fire was started by someone, as “no known source of ignition,” was found, in the entryway. He says the fire is similar in nature to others recently set by arsonists, in Jamestown. He was not certain if this fire is related to the others that were
purposely set, as the investigation continues.
The fire was reported under control at 5:48-a.m., as the units were on the scene until about 6:30-a.m.
The fire department made two searches of the building make sure everybody was safely out.
Red Cross, Buffalo Valley Chapter Manager Beth Dewald now says, 20- individuals reside in the apartment building, and all but one who was in the building at the time of the fire
made contact with the Red Cross, who went to work Thursday, and one person that was out of town, and is being contacted.
She met with most of the residents, Thursday morning at the Red Cross temporary shelter at Atonement Lutheran Church, that was closed down late Thursday morning. She asks anyone who has not made contact with the Red Cross to call 252-3550. She says one resident arranged over night accommodations for Thursday night, the rest have made arrangements to stay with either family or friends.
Captain Reuther says Jamestown Police the City Fire Department and the Jamestown Fire Arson Task Force with Scott Edinger, and Leroy Gross, of Jamestown Police, and federal
authorities continue with the on-going investigation, with evidence having been sent for laboratory analysis. He says interviews have been conducted and more will be held, as the investigation continues, with a number of leads being followed.
Anyone with information on suspicious activity in the area on Thursday morning, or any other information is asked to call Jamestown Police at 252-2414, or the Jamestown City Fire Department non-emergency number at 252-1441.
Captain Reuther reminds everyone to make sure they have working smoke or fire alarms in their homes, located in recommended locations. Back to Local Headlines
