FRANKLIN, Ohio — Around 22 people have been displaced after an apartment fire in Warren County, according to the Franklin Fire Department.
The fire started at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday on the second floor of the Emerald Edge apartments near a bedroom at the back of the building, Wisemen said.
Franklin Fire Chief Daniel Stitzel said the fire started from a discarded cigarette; he said a woman was smoking on a back balcony and didn't fuly extinguish the cigarette before going inside to sleep.
When the woman woke up, the balcony was on fire, Stitzel said. Other combustible materials on the balcony may have contributed to the fire, Stitzel said, but the wind also helped the fire to quickly spread.
According to Wisemen, when fire crews arrived, heavy flames were coming from the roof.
Other fire departments in the area were called to help, he said.
Everyone inside the apartments self-evacuated and did not require rescue, Wisemen said.
He said no one was injured.
Wisemen told our WCPO team on the scene that it took approximately seven hours to put out the fire because cars were in the way, the narrow roads and not being able to get a ladder. He also said it was hard to get the water pressure going at the apartment.
In total, 12 units were damaged, displacing eight families. The Red Cross was on the scene helping the individuals who were displaced, Wisemen said.
Wisemen said the estimated damages are between $300,000-$500,000.
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