Latosha Williams was at a friend’s place when she got the news: The apartment where she lived with three of her adult children and two of her grandchildren was burning.
It was a little after 4 a.m., she said.
“(My daughter) told me she had heard something outside, and something told her to get up and check it out,” Williams said.
Williams’ daughter went outside and realized that the unit next to her was on fire. She ran back in, Williams said, got the others out and then called her mom.
Williams is one of more than 20 people who lost their homes in the Thursday morning fire at Chanticleer Apartments, located on Seventh Street at the intersection with Park Circle. She lived in 6C, the upper right-hand unit.
The blaze ultimately destroyed all six units in the building, according to Columbus Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Duane Hughes.
Hughes said firefighters from Stations 1 and 3 fought the blaze, and it took “several hours” to get under control.
The cause of the blaze had not been determined, he said, but arson is not suspected. Hughes said it is part of an uptick in accidental fires this time of year. He believes there are a couple of causes.
“In my estimation it’s because with COVID you have more people spending more time indoors, and they just get lax about fire safety,” he said. “More people are also using alternate means to heat their homes with rising energy costs.”
“Inappropriate” use of space heaters, overwhelmed extension cords and even using ovens as a heat source all play a role, he said.
“I’m not saying that that was the cause here,” he said. “Just that it happens.”
Glenda Buckhalter-Richardson, director for community outreach for the city of Columbus, said about 17 adults and five children were displaced by the blaze.
Her organization is trying to point them at local charities to get them help.
“We’re working with the Salvation Army,” she said. “Junior Auxiliary is helping get uniforms for school kids, Father’s Closet is helping with clothing the adults. We’re asking the Housing Authority if they have any emergency units available.”
If Williams is any indication, the displaced families are in desperate need.
Some of her family members “had no shirts or shoes on,” she said. “One of my grandbabies was in sleeping clothes and barefoot. But they all made it out, thank the Good Lord.”
She lost literally everything, though.
“They sent us to the warming shelter last night, but right now I’m staying with some family,” Williams said. “I had just paid rent, and now I can’t stay there. I’m not sure how long we can stay (with family). I’m just trying to find some way to get help now.”
Buckhalter-Richardson appealed to the public for help, because her organization’s resources are depleted by Christmas.
“We really need some help with this,” she said.
She urged anyone with the means to help to contact the community outreach center at 662-244-3525.
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