Privileged to help in a small way at massive fire

The Gilbert apartment complex under construction. (KPHO/KTVK)

I was PIO at the scene for the Red Cross after a 5-alarm fire destroyed a Gilbert apartment complex under construction on Saturday, April 23 at 166 E. Civic Center Drive, which is near Warner and Gilbert roads. No one was killed by the fire, but many had to be evacuated from nearby homes and the Reserve Apartments complex because of the intense heat and smoke.

I was in the meeting where the Gilbert Fire Department decided that one of the conditions of the evacuation being lifted was that the property manager must first fix damaged smoke detectors and fire alarms at the Reserve apartments. Also, 13 doors needed to be repaired from being kicked in during the evacuations on Saturday night.

News reports said that there was so much heat from the massive fire that it partially melted some people's cars. Embers from the huge fire fell at the Reserve Apartments and set some bushes on fire, but there was a fear it could jump and damage the apartments. Residents in about 30 homes had mere seconds to escape.

Evacuations were lifted Sunday afternoon and the residents at the Reserve Apartments complex were allowed to return to their apartments and saw some of the damage there.

Some cars were partially melted from the heat (KPHO/KTVK)

About half the evacuees had renter's insurance, so the Gilbert Fire Department was able to immediately use that coverage to get them into a nearby hotel. Those without renter's insurance were referred to the Red Cross, which provided 11 survivors with rooms at another nearby hotel.

As a Red Cross PIO it is my privilege to work alongside many, many dedicated police, fire, EMS and volunteers. Just seeing the small child peacefully asleep in her father's arms at 1 a.m. is all I need to see the value of what we do.

Investigators are now looking for clues leading them to the cause of the fire.