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Two people were hospitalized, one with serious burns, and a dozen people were made homeless after a fire on the morning after Christmas at an apartment complex at 2217 S. Garrison Ave.
Firefighters said the first fire call came in at 12:57 a.m. Monday. Firefighters were called back to the scene shortly after noon Monday when smoke was spotted in the burned apartment.
Fire Capt. Kendall Terry said the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office was investigating the fire, but no official cause had been determined as of Monday.
Jared Root and Denny Root, brothers who live in the apartment complex, said Kenneth Cole, an older man who lived in the apartment that was most seriously damaged, was taken by helicopter to the burn unit at Mercy St. John’s Regional Health Center in Springfield.
The Roots said they believed Cole, who was on oxygen and had oxygen tanks in his apartment, had been smoking before the fire started.
“He was out on the porch when I got out of my apartment and flames were rolling over his head,” said Jared Root. “We helped him away from the fire, but he was in bad shape.”
Denny Root said he spent time at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital in Carthage for smoke inhalation.
Jared Root said the flames spread into the attic of the apartment building, making all the apartments uninhabitable.
He said there were a total of 14 people in the five apartments, the 12 residents and two children who were guests of one of the residents.
The American Red Cross responded to the fire and provided motel rooms for the 12 people made homeless by the fire, which made all five units in the building uninhabitable.
The Roots praised the fire department and American Red Cross for their swift response and assistance they are providing the residents.
Two people were hospitalized, one with serious burns, and a dozen people were made homeless after a fire on the morning after Christmas at an apartment complex at 2217 S. Garrison Ave.
Firefighters said the first fire call came in at 12:57 a.m. Monday. Firefighters were called back to the scene shortly after noon Monday when smoke was spotted in the burned apartment.
Fire Capt. Kendall Terry said the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office was investigating the fire, but no official cause had been determined as of Monday.
Jared Root and Denny Root, brothers who live in the apartment complex, said Kenneth Cole, an older man who lived in the apartment that was most seriously damaged, was taken by helicopter to the burn unit at Mercy St. John’s Regional Health Center in Springfield.
The Roots said they believed Cole, who was on oxygen and had oxygen tanks in his apartment, had been smoking before the fire started.
“He was out on the porch when I got out of my apartment and flames were rolling over his head,” said Jared Root. “We helped him away from the fire, but he was in bad shape.”
Denny Root said he spent time at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital in Carthage for smoke inhalation.
Jared Root said the flames spread into the attic of the apartment building, making all the apartments uninhabitable.
He said there were a total of 14 people in the five apartments, the 12 residents and two children who were guests of one of the residents.
The American Red Cross responded to the fire and provided motel rooms for the 12 people made homeless by the fire, which made all five units in the building uninhabitable.
The Roots praised the fire department and American Red Cross for their swift response and assistance they are providing the residents.
