Residents must find a new place to call home after Richmond apartment fire

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond residents were left in shock after flames shot through the roof of Ashton Square Apartments.

The Richmond Fire Department responded to the 600 of Westover Hills Boulevard around 3:36 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2 for a report of a fire. 

Apartment managers on scene confirmed that 12 apartments were damaged and seven were occupied at the time of the fire in the Forest Hill area of Richmond’s Southside.

Crews worked to put out the fire until 4:47 a.m. on Sunday.  

“They were able to put the fire out on one side and then one side just kept igniting like they would put it out, and it was back again. Put it out, and it was back again,” said resident Tarneeka Carter. She continued to say, “They were spraying so much, they even got it on us and we were sitting on the porch.”

The Richmond Fire Department says every occupant made it out safely. There was a dog found in a crate on the first floor of the building and was rescued from the building.

No injuries from residents were reported. The Red Cross was on scene at the time of the incident and determined that they will assist around 25 people impacted by the fire.

“To see it look like this it’s just crazy. It’s, wow! You know, it’s something that you never expect to happen in your neighborhood,” Carter said. “And to wake up this morning and know that everybody’s kind of sad and upset and, you know, they’ve lost a lot, you know, it’s mind-blowing.”

The Richmond Fire Investigations Unit is working to determine the cause of this fire. Right now, residents are remaining positive.

“We’re strong because we can preserve and we can get through this,” Carter said.