TERRELL, Texas — Investigators believe children playing with fire may have led to a Wednesday afternoon fire that destroyed an eight-unit apartment building in Terrell which displaced 24 people.
TERRELL, Texas — Investigators believe children playing with fire may have led to a Wednesday afternoon fire that destroyed an eight-unit apartment building in Terrell which displaced 24 people.
At approximately 5:38 p.m., the Terrell Fire Department responded to a fully-involved structure fire at the Stone Creek Apartment complex located in the 100 block of Lovers Lane.
"Responding TFD units found building 105 on fire with heavy smoke and flames coming from the upper floor," Interim Fire Chief Thomas Cooper told inForney.com.
Mutual aid was requested from area fire departments including the Forney Fire Department, Terrell Volunteer Fire Department, College Mound Fire Department, and the Kaufman Fire Department. Ladder trucks from Forney and Kaufman responded.
According to Cooper, 62 firefighters and 16 fire apparatus responded from eight mutual aid departments.
"Witnesses stated that a group of children playing with lighters and paper set a wooden fence on fire adjacent to to the building," stated Cooper. "The southern wind pushed the flames into the apartment building and contributed to the rapid rate of flame spread."
At least eight apartment units sustained heavy fire, smoke, and water damage. 14 adults and 10 children were displaced as a result of the fire.
The American Red Cross responded to assist those displaced.
This is a developing story.
#Firefighters from #Forney, #CollegeMound, #Kaufman and #Terrell VFD all assisting the Terrell FD with this fire. One building heavily involved.@FOX4 pic.twitter.com/1ycZwM6f9H
— FOX4Terry (@FOX4Terry) April 18, 2018
