Fire at apartments displaces residents
The fire chief said the fire caused $150,000 to $200,000 in damage.
By KATIE LIBECCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LIBERTY -- A fire in an apartment complex on Gypsy Lane sent four residents to the hospital and displaced about 30.
An unidentified caller alerted Forum Health Northside Medical Center about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday about seeing smoke, thinking it was in the center's parking deck.
When security officers went to investigate the deck, they saw smoke and flames coming from Deville Apartments, 2904 and 2901 Gypsy Lane, next to the parking deck. They called Liberty police and fire departments at 2:30 p.m.
Alerted residents
While waiting for help, the security guards began knocking on doors with Clemente Paramedics. They tried to alert residents of the fire, according to security guard Ed Madeline.
One resident, Betty Weber, credited those who knocked on her door for saving her and her visiting granddaughter Crystal Cappitte.
"I didn't know there was a fire until security came. I don't have any smoke alarms," Weber said.
Weber said she has been a resident of Deville Apartments since 1980.
When security found Weber and Cappitte in their apartment, they were taken to Northside hospital, where they were treated for smoke inhalation.
Weber said she thought the fire started in Apartment eight, but Liberty Fire Chief Michael Durkin said it would take a few days to complete the investigation and find out where the fire started.
"We got everyone out and got them up to Northside," Durkin said.
Two other residents were in their apartments when the fire began; security and paramedics evacuated them to Northside hospital.
Stayed in hospital lobby
Other residents of the apartment who returned home to the fire were allowed to stay in the hospital's lobby for warmth and shelter, Madeline said. Thomas Carchedi, manager of security at Northside, said 20 to 25 other residents were displaced by the fire.
Youngstown and Vienna fire departments were the first to respond, both sending ladder trucks. They were joined by Liberty, Howland and Brookfield, Durkin said.
Durkin estimated the damage to the apartment complex at around $150,000 to $200,000, including the value of personal contents.
Forum Health buildings nearby were evacuated during the fire, Carchedi said.
Residents of Deville Apartments were permitted to stay at the Rescue Mission on Tuesday night.