Fire damages apartment building, claims two dogs
Published 3:21 pm Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Fire investigators say the cause of an early morning fire in a Winchester apartment building appears to be accidental.
Though the exact cause of the fire at 235 Carolina Ave. has not been determined at this point, officials said there is no indication of foul play so far.
“It’s too early,” Winchester Fire-EMS Fire Marshal Gary Henry said. “Nothing’s looking suspicious.”
The fire was reported at 3:10 a.m. Tuesday, when neighbors saw fire coming from Apt. 38.
The resident, Henry said, had been called to a neighbor’s home and was not there when the fire broke out.
“When she came back, there were flames coming out of her apartment,” Henry said.
The most fire damage was around the living room and kitchen, he said.
The fire broke through the wall to a neighboring apartment as well as the one above, he said.
Firefighters said the fire was knocked down quickly when they arrived, but they spent time finding where it spread through the walls and into the attic.
No injuries were reported among any of the residents of the building, which is owned by Bobby Roberts, Henry said. The Red Cross was also notified to assist the residents find accommodations.
Henry said firefighters found two dogs in Apt. 38, which died from the fire.