ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — Dozens of elderly and disabled individuals remain displaced after a devastating fire occurred at the Stratford Village apartments late last Tuesday, leaving one person killed and several others injured.
Property Manager, Alex Fekas says about eight people might have to find a new place to live. Fekas is still looking for the cause of the deadly fire that displaced about 100 people originally. Fekas wasn’t inside during the time of the fire but explains what he saw on the security cameras.
“Once the fire starts you can see it coming through here rolling down the hall. It doesn’t get to much on the bottom. That’s why they say crawl under smoke,” said Fekas
Lots of people living in the apartments are disabled or elderly so crews broke down doors to carry some of them out.
When everyone was out of the building, the Red Cross took it from there. It gave residents a temporary credit card and a hotel stay for a few days. But some say they’ve run out of their free stay and the money.
“I have a place to stay, but I don’t like imposing.” She added, “I don’t know what about the people who don’t have a place to stay. I don’t know what they’re going to do,” said resident, Vivian Cable said,
Melissa Spradlin says her mother was displaced so she made a phone call to the Presbyterian Community center. They provided her with food for her mom and other residents in the hotel like cereal beans, fish, crackers, and canned goods. Now she’s looking for more people to help those impacted by the fire.
“I was shocked of it all just due to the nature of nobody is helping,” said Caseworker, Ebony Hurt.
The staff at Stratford Village says it could take anywhere from a week to two weeks to finish the repairs making it safe to go back inside.
“I think that’s where the community needs to come in and be involved with helping these people,” said Hurt.
The cause is still determined to be accidental and a result of improperly discarded smoking materials. Fekas says this wasn’t the first time that was the cause of fire here. He advises that tenants get renters insurance. The Roanoke Rescue Mission says it will provide help with food and shelter to anyone who asks.
