Several families had to be evacuated this afternoon from their homes at 1020 N. Grove St., north of Poe Road, after a fire started on the third floor of the Bowling Green apartment complex.
One person suffered injuries from burns and smoke inhalation, and was likely in the apartment where the fire originated, according to BG Fire Chief Bill Moorman.
The fire was put out quickly, but the challenge was evacuating the apartment building, which has about 20 units. Several of the residents have limited mobility, Moorman said.
The evacuation was a team effort, with Bowling Green City School buses used to transport the residents to temporary shelter at the Community Center. The Red Cross is staffing the shelter there.
Assisting with the blaze was Middleton Township EMS, Weston Fire and EMS, Medic 120, and Pemberville-Freedom Fire Department, which staffed the BG fire stations during the blaze. Bowling Green Police Division and city workers also helped at the scene, going door-to-door to get people evacuated.
“It was a team effort from everybody in a very difficult situation,” Moorman said.
It appears that the first and second floors of the apartment complex may be livable, the fire chief said. But the third and fourth floors must be evaluated, he said. The Red Cross will provide temporary shelter for those who cannot return to their homes.
The cause of the fire is unknown, and is under investigation, Moorman said.
Code Red alerts sent out by the city initially also reported a second fire near the intersection of South Main Street and East Gypsy Lane Road. That report was sent out in error.
