The Estates at Lafayette Square Apartment Fire

At approximately 9:10 p.m., Mobile Fire-Rescue Department crews were dispatched to The Estates at Lafayette Square (900 Downtowner Blvd) for reports of a possible fire in an apartment in building 24. Callers (neighbors) reported smoke coming from a unit. Neighbors suspected that the residents of the apartment were not home, but could not confirm. All other residents of the involved building were able to safely evacuate prior to MFRD arrival. 

Upon arrival on scene (9:16 p.m.), fire personnel confirmed thick smoke and flames present in a ground floor apartment. Fire suppression teams entered the structure to begin the initial fire attack, while search and rescue personnel confirmed the involved unit was unoccupied.

Flames were discovered in the kitchen area, extending into the walls and moving toward the 2nd-floor. Firefighters coordinated their efforts on both floors of the building and were able to quickly stop the spread of fire into other apartment units. Firewalls assisted in protecting adjacent apartment homes.

At approximately 9:29 p.m., Incident Command advised that the fire was under control and all fire personnel were accounted. Crews remained on scene to search for hot spots and ventilate toxic gases from the building. 

Fire damage was limited primarily to the involved apartment unit, while adjacent homes suffered minimal to moderate smoke damage. The American Red Cross was notified and requested to the scene to assist 3 displaced families.

There were no injuries to civilians or fire personnel. Fire Investigators reviewed the scene and performed a preliminary investigation, revealing that the fire originated in the kitchen of the 1st-floor apartment. With no residents home at the time of the incident, the cause of the fire remains undetermined, pending further investigation.