NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Ten people were transported from an apartment complex fire scene, while firefighters still battled the blaze off of Paragon Mills Road.
Nashville Fire Department crews began to respond to the call around 2:30 p.m. at the Foxcroft Apartments. Seven firefighters and three residents — two adults and one child — were driven to receive treatment. One firefighter had minor neck burns and one resident had a medical heart-related stress issue.
NFD told NewsChannel 5 that originally, a two-alarm response was called due to the high temperatures outside. Nashville broke a weather record for June 22 when temperatures reached 100° for the first time since 2012 and then continued to climb.
The alarm response later escalated to a three-alarm, according to NFD's Kendra Loney. The response later lowered as crews doused the building.
Watch NFD's Kendra Loney give the most recent update on the fires at the Foxcroft apartment complex:
At least 60 residents are displaced, adding up to 20 families.
A shelter is now open at Croft Middle Design Center at 482 Elysian Fields Road for displaced Foxcroft Apartments residents. #Nashville pic.twitter.com/RJa3dYvbZD
— American Red Cross of Tennessee (@RedCrossTN) June 22, 2022
A center for the displaced residents was set up at Croft Middle Design School, a mile away from the fire scene. Interpreters were on hand at the site. The families have been staying overnight at Crievewood Baptist Church.
"Affected residents that need assistance have been speaking with Red Cross disaster volunteers as a recovery plan begins for these families," American Red Cross officials said in a statement late Wednesday night.
watch NFD's Kendra Loney give an early update on the apartment fire on Paragon Mills Road
Upon initial arrival at the scene, crews saw smoke coming from the breezeway of the back of Building B at the complex.
Watch firefighter crews work to contain the fire in the video player below
Building B contained 20 units.
No information about the cause of the fire is available at this time.
Right now @RedCrossTN and @MetroSchools is working with us to provide temporary shelter for the people impacted by this fire.
— Nashville Fire Dept (@NashvilleFD) June 22, 2022
As soon as they arrived on the scene, the American Red Cross worked quickly to set up a shelter for displaced apartment residents.
Early reports and 911 calls indicated that there were people trapped in the building. Crews worked to get in and rescue them but they could not complete the entry attempts because the building was collapsing.
When they reentered despite the structure not being sound, no one was inside. A secondary search was conducted with cadaver dogs on Thursday morning.
So far, not one resident is unaccounted for.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) joined in investigating the cause of the fire. They shadowed the NFD.
ATF Certified Fire Investigators are on scene to assist the Nashville Fire Department with the cause and origin of a fire that occurred at an apartment complex in south Nashville. For more updates, follow @NashvilleFD pic.twitter.com/t82R9MuADh
— ATF Nashville (@ATFNashville) June 22, 2022
MNPS provided two air-conditioned school buses for personnel to use to take breaks while firefighting in the extreme heat. Personnel has been rotating to stay safe in the current weather conditions.
