By DAVE SCHULTZ
A fire ripped through one of the wings of the Capri Meadows II apartment complex on Bluffton’s near north side Thursday afternoon.
There were no fatalities but four people — one firefighter and three residents — were injured during the fire. The firefighter was from the Bluffton Fire Department, and Bluffton Fire Chief Don Craig said the firefighter was treated at the scene. The three civilians were transported by ambulance to medical facilities. Craig said he did not know their condition Thursday night.
The number of residents displaced by the fire was also not known Thursday night. Neil Ainslie, the Salvation Army’s service representative in Wells County, said late Thursday afternoon that it appeared some 25 to 35 people were expected to spend the night at the Life Community Church, where an overnight shelter was being set up.
While firefighters were at the scene, about two dozen residents were at Life Church having something to eat while Ainslie and some Red Cross representatives were on hand to arrange temporary housing for them.
Firefighters from Bluffton and 10 other departments fought the fire, which broke out shortly after noon. Bluffton firefighters responded to the scene at 58 Capri Court at about 12:30 p.m.
“Upon arrival, heavy fire with significant smoke was observed coming from a second story apartment window,” a press release from the Bluffton Fire Department said. “Initial crews conducted search and rescue efforts, which resulted in eight to 10 residents being rescued from the structure.”
Craig noted that firefighters were at first overwhelmed by the need to rescue people. Members of the Bluffton Police Department, EMS personnel, and civilians assisted in helping people out of the building.
Craig said when he first arrived, he went around to the back to view the fire. While he was there, he said, he and another firefighter helped an individual escape the fire through a window. He went through the center outdoor hallway of the structure and came across a police officer and another individual carrying someone down the stairs in a wheelchair.
Mutual aid was provided at the scene by the Liberty Township, Ossian, Portland, Preble, Decatur, Arcola, Geneva, Monroe, and Markle fire departments, plus the Southwest Allen County Fire District. Standby service was provided by the Berne and Warren fire departments. The East Central Fire and EMS District in New Haven and Northeast Allen County Fire and EMS Territory in Grabill were dispatched to the scene, but later told to disregard the call. The Poe Fire Department was placed on standby at its station prior to being dispatched to an additional fire.
This is how the fight against the fire was described by Bluffton Fire Department’s press release:
“An aggressive interior attack was conducted on the second and third floors of the structure. Several crews battled the blaze initially and encountered several active fires within the structure as well as individual apartments. After an initial knockdown of the general fire, and with no further life safety concerns of occupants, crews switched to defensive attack operations.
“Crews battled the blaze for around two hours prior to conducting extensive overhaul operations.”
The press release said mutual aid crews started being released from the scene at approximately 5:30 p.m. Bluffton firefighters returned to their station and were back in service by 8 p.m.
Craig praised the cooperation among the crews. “Firefighters are all professionally trained and work together,” he said.
As overhaul operations continued well into the evening, crews from multiple departments were also able to save several pets. Pets were released to owners on scene or taken to the local animal shelter for the evening until being reconnected with owners.
Calls came in during the evening from people needing medications that were in the building, and firefighters and medics helped with those requests as they were able.
Craig remained on the scene until about 8:30 p.m., meeting with a representative of the State Fire Marshal’s office, who began an investigation into the cause.
The investigation is considered ongoing and the cause is officially undetermined pending the completion of the investigation. Craig said the cause may not be known until sometime next week.
daves@news-banner.com
