Firefighters Respond to Structure Fire in Santa Rita Neighborhood

A structure fire broke out just after 10:30 p.m. at the 300 block of South Washington Street in the Santa Rita neighborhood Friday night.

Ladder 1 and crew responded. Upon arrival, there were no visible flames. A short while later, firefighters fetched fans, presumably to air out lingering smoke.

The fire is in a residence. But the 200 to the 300 block of Washington Street is blocked off. It appeared to us that the fire was in the backyard or in the back room of one of the residences. Firefighters reported over the radio that approximately 10 bystanders were near where the incident happened.

We will update this story once official information is available.

Update 11:30 p.m.

AEP crews are disconnecting the electricity. Activity contines behind a house in the 200 block of S. Washington.

Update 11:33 p.m.

This appears to be where the fire was.

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Update 12:06 a.m.

Battalion Chief Fred Barnett briefed the media. He said the fire department responded to a fully involved garage apartment fire at 10:42 p.m.

His biggest concern was exposure to the main house and other structures nearby. “Our first priority was to minimize exposure.” Firefighters made contact with the inhabitant of the affected garage apartment and he confirmed that no one was left inside.

Ladder 1 knocked down the flames through the windows of the apartment’s first floor, Barnett said. Engine 5 fought the flames from the back side of the structure.  The crew from Engine 4 evaluated the stairs, and were able to move up and into the apartment and began to fight flames from the inside

The fire appears to have been contained to a bedroom/kitchenette area. The rest of the apartment was damaged by extensive heat and smoke damage.

During the fire, an additional engine, Engine 7, was requested, along with a second ambulance, for manpower.

No animals or people were harmed in the fire.

The occupant of the apartment appeared to be college-aged and was presumably renting from his parents. He was standing at the gate when firefighters arrived and informed them that there were no other occupants.

The fire marshal has started the investigation.