Warren apartment fire could have been catastrophic

WARREN – Six tenants of the Avon Oaks Apartments were rescued during an early morning blaze that the fire chief said could have been deadly.

“It could have been catastrophic to say the least,” Fire Chief Kenneth Nussle said today.

Four tenants were taken to St. Joseph Health Center and one to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

There was no immediate estimate of damage as a result of the blaze that broke out about 5:15 a.m.

Nussle said the flames started in Apt. 108 on the first floor of the 12-unit complex rented by a woman, who fell asleep on her couch while smoking a cigarette.

A tenant who lives across the hall , described as a young man, heard the smoke alarms sounding and went inside the woman's apartment. She was still sleeping when her neighbor carried her to safety, the chief said.

The chief didn’t know if the neighbor had to force the door open or if was left unsecured.

Nussle said firefighters rescued a mother and her two children from the second-floor front balcony and two adults from the second-floor back balcony.

Flames were confined to Jackson’s apartment but smoke spread throughout the complex, the chief explained.

The complex is owned by Pride Management, the chief said.

Efforts to reach the manager by phone were not successful, but a message at Avon Oaks says it is renting one- and two-bedroom apartments for 14 months. Renters do not have to pay rent the first and 14th months.