10 people evacuated Christmas day from apartments on Gilmore
Staff Report
A fire in a large, two-story home divided into apartments disrupted Christmas for its occupants Wednesday afternoon.
A call came in at 2:30 p.m., for a fire in a house at 407 Gilmore Street, Interim Waycross Fire Chief Jim Blackburn, Jr. said. The first of the four units, which fought the blaze, were on the scene within a minute to find heavy fire on the back of the structure and smoke throughout.
Blackburn said two officers from the Waycross Police Department, as well as neighbors along the street, were helping the 10 occupants in the house evacuate to safety when firefighters arrived.
“The neighbors jumped in and were helping people get out,” said Blackburn. “They did a phenomenal job.”
Three people suffered injuries resulting from the blaze, according to Blackburn. Two were treated at the scene by Ware County EMS and a third was transported by EMS to Memorial Satilla Health with nonlife- threatening injuries, Blackburn said.
The house is split into four apartments on each of the first and second floors, according to Blackburn.
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Waycross Fire Department personnel fought a fire Christmas afternoon at 407 Gilmore Street. The two-story frame house was divided into eight apartments. Ten occupants were evacuated. The blaze began about 2:30 p.m. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Photo by DANNY BARTLETT The fire caused extensive damage throughout the frame structure. A portion of the roof caved in onto the second floor and there was smoke and water damage throughout.
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Blackburn said the cause of the fire had yet to be determined. The state fire marshal’s office was on the scene a day after the blaze to begin assessing the incident.
A total of 17 fire department personnel were at the scene, said Blackburn. The final unit departed about 8:30 p.m.
Cedric Caine moved into the apartment complex on Gilmore Street about six months ago.
“We were inside cooking, celebrating Christmas and next thing you know, the lady came upstairs knocking on everyone’s door screaming, ‘fire, fire get out everybody, get out! Fire, fire – the place is on fire, let’s go,’” Caine said. “Very, very sad. Not happy at all about it. I’m very sad – a weird illfeeling in the belly if that’s how you want to describe it, but yeah, not good.”
