Irving Apartment Complex Destroyed By Fire
IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) - Dozens of people had to run from their homes after an apartment complex in Irving caught on fire Monday night. The incident started just after 10:00 p.m. at the Britain Place Townhomes, located in the 1200 block of North Britain Road.
Firefighters think that the blaze began near a fence. It was very windy at the time, which fueled the intense flames. Once the fence caught on fire, the flames jumped to the building and damaged all 18 homes at the complex. A total of 33 people live in the townhomes, and all were affected by the fire in some way.
"I was preparing for slumber," said resident Ashley Jones. "I grabbed my son. I don't have any keys. I don't have anything to my name but what I have on for Cinco de Mayo at work today. So, hopefully someone will find it in their heart to help us with clothes. There was a lot of children that lived in this unit."
The American Red Cross arrived on the scene to assist 13 families with shoes, clothes, groceries and other essentials.
Nobody was injured in this incident, which is particularly amazing. Because the fire started outside, residents said that smoke alarms did not go off. Neighbors acted quickly, however, to help each other out. They knocked on doors and worked together to make sure that all residents would escape safely.
"If it wasn't for the Lord, we could've been asleep when this happened," said resident Kendrick Shelton. "Anything could've happened. I'm just glad nobody got hurt. This material stuff, we're going to get it back. But thankfully, everybody got out safely."
Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the initial fire near the fence.
Firefighters were later called back to the scene early Tuesday morning after a fire in a second floor apartment unit had rekindled. That situation was extinguished quickly.
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