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TAYLORSVILLE — A two-alarm fire displaced residents from 20 apartment units that were destroyed Friday, causing an estimated $1.5 million in damage.
The fire at Thornhill Apartments, 1680 Thornhill Drive, started about 2:40 a.m. Friday sending residents scrambling to evacuate their neighbors. As many as 100 people were evacuated, including from neighboring buildings, as firefighters battled the blaze.
"There were residents and bystanders who went and knocked on doors, banged on doors to wake people up, and everybody was evacuated prior to our arrival," Unified Fire Authority spokesman David Ulibarri said. "We love to hear that everyone is out. When we arrive and we hear that someone is trapped, that's one of our biggest fears."
When crews arrived, smoke and flames were already shooting from the destroyed roof of building No. 10, according to authorities at the scene.
The Red Cross was assisting up to 50 people, all adults, who remained displaced after the fire was extinguished, Ulibarri said. The building is a total loss.
Flames destroyed 10 of the apartment units, while smoke and water damaged 10 more.
"Everybody got up at the same time and ran outside and looked and there were flames everywhere," said Rickson Wacuk, who lives in a neighboring building. "It was overwhelming."
Ulibarri said it may be several days before investigators determine what caused the blaze.
Contributing: Shara Park, Nkoyo Iyamba
