Wednesday, October 29, 2008
By Harold Gwin
HUBBARD — Firefighters said they had to evacuate some 200 residents of Shadow Run Apartments when fire broke out in a first-floor unit of the large complex.
The smoke sent one policeman to the hospital.
Fire crews were called to the complex at 518 W. Liberty St. at 7:13 p.m. after residents reported the blaze.
Fire Chief John Clemente said the occupant of the apartment where the fire started was at work at the time. His identity wasn’t immediately known. Some neighbors saw smoke coming from the unit and broke down the door to get inside to make sure no one was home, Clemente said.
Another resident came in with a fire extinguisher but was unable to contain the flames, the chief said.
The smoke grew so thick in the hallways that “you couldn’t see 2 feet in front of you,” Clemente said.
Firefighters raced through the building evacuating tenants, and one Hubbard police officer assisting with the evacuations was overcome by smoke.
He was able to get out of the building on his own and was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Clemente said. No report on his condition was available.
The chief said firefighters had to break down four or five doors to get the residents to come out. They were apparently afraid to open their doors and leave their apartments, he said. Several had to be given oxygen at the scene by an ambulance service, he said.
Firefighters were able to stop the blaze before it burned into the hallway.
“We were lucky we had people who saw it and responded so quickly,” Clemente said.
Those evacuated were directed to the nearby municipal building, the apartment complex recreation room in the apartment complex pool building and the Hubbard Public Library.
They were allowed to return to their apartments around 9:30 p.m.
Clemente said the cause of the fire was undetermined. No damage estimate was available.
gwin@vindy.com