Eight people, including a firefighter, were injured during a fire at the Social Seminole, an apartment complex not far from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.
The fire, which residents said broke out shortly before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, on the third floor of the building quickly spread. The Tallahassee Fire Department quickly controlled the fire, but 12 of the building’s 24 apartments were “pretty much destroyed,” TFD public information officer Lt. Todd Inserra said.
Residents of the Social Seminole apartment building who escaped shot dramatic video of the blaze, including one showing a man frantically putting out flames on his body as he ran from the building.
“Upon arrival, there was heavy fire through the roof and reports of multiple people being trapped,” Inserra told the Tallahassee Democrat, a USA TODAY Network newspaper. “So we immediately went into rescue operations as well as fire suppression operations. And that’s when we rescued two people from the second floor.”
TFD said in a news release that the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
The Social Seminole reportedly placed students displaced by the fire in temporary rooms.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, Amy Farnum-Patronis, FSU’s senior director of communications, said the university would provide support to students affected by the fire through the victim’s advocate program. Students in need of assistance can call their hotline 24/7 at (850) 644-7161 or text (850) 756-4320.
The Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross recommended those who want to help young people impacted by the fire could donate to the Student Emergency Fund.
“Late last night, Red Cross volunteers responded to a 24-unit fire at the Social Seminole apartments on Ocala Rd, displacing 72 adults, one infant, and four pets — including 53 FSU students,” the Red Cross said. “Our team, led by Marc Boyd, coordinated with property management, the FSU Dean of Students, and an FSU victims advocate. All residents had a safe place to stay, and relocation to vacant units is underway.”
Photos from Social Seminole apartment fire near FSU in Tallahassee, Florida
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Photos show apartment fire near FSU, including a man putting out flames on his body
Reporting by Jeff Burlew, Elena Barrera, Kim Luciani and Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
