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Some residents had to jump off balconies to escape a fire at River Pointe Apartments in Mishawaka Friday night. One person was injured in the blaze (WSBT photo/ASHLEY HENDERSON) (April 13, 2012) |
The fire broke out just before 6 p.m. at 135 Bercado Place.
Neighbors told a WSBT photographer at the scene it started in a first-floor apartment where an elderly vet lives. They said they heard a small explosion, possibly one of the man's oxygen tanks.
"My wife and I were going to walk to the store up the street," said neighbor Ken Sivia. "We came out and the bottom apartment right there was engulfed in flames, it had already gone up to the top apartment."
The fire moved fast.
"It just spread quickly right across the top," Sivia said. "They [firefighters] were just breaking out windows and getting some more of the people out. We're told there were people on the back side of the building jumping off the balconies because it spread so fast."
Officials said one person was taken to the hospital, but there is no word on who that person is or the extent of their injuries.
"There was a gentleman out here on the ground waiting on ambulance attention," Sivia said. "The fire trucks hadn't quite got here yet...I haven't gone through anything like that myself. I couldn't imagine going through that with all that fire."
Firefighters eventually got the flames under control. As of 8 p.m. Friday they were still dealing with small hot spots, according to a city fire dispatcher.
SUNDAY UPDATE: We checked with people at the apartment complex. They told us they believe they'll be allowed back in their apartments Monday to get their belongings.
