By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A blaze swept through an apartment complex behind the Goodwill store on North Main Street this evening, leaving just shells of part of the structure.
It’s unknown exactly how many people have been displaced by the blaze that destroyed an estimated 18 units, but fire officials said everyone inside escaped.
Nancy Oberhaus sat back from the fire as it devoured her apartment and everything inside.
“One of my neighbors barged in and yelled at me to get out,” Oberhaus said. “He ran in the bedroom to get my shoes.”
As they fled the apartment where she had lived 19 years, Oberhaus said flames were shooting from the porch above her door, dropping molten metal onto her house dress as she escaped.
“I got out and saw the flames shooting over the roof,” Oberhaus said, as she sat on the seat of her walker.
The first 911 call about the fire came at 5:15 p.m., sending Bowling Green fire and police divisions to the complex called Village Court North, at 311 Parkview Ave. The complex is a series of three buildings – with a single-story structure at both ends, and a double-story structure in the middle.
When fire crews arrived, the fire was already showing, BG Fire Chief Bill Moorman said.
“It had already gone through the roof,” he said.
The first priority was making sure everyone was out of the buildings.
“We knew we were going to be dealing with a lot of people,” Moorman said. There was one person treated for a medical issue, but the chief said it was unknown if the injury was caused by the fire or was a previous medical condition.
Firefighters were able to save the southern end of the complex, using defensive strategies in the middle section of the two-story portion, the chief said.
Two aerial fire trucks were used to extinguish the blaze – one Bowling Green’s and the other Perrysburg’s.
“The biggest issue was the wind,” Moorman said.
By 7 p.m., most of the fire had been extinguished and the firefighters re-strategized their efforts, the chief said.
“The bulk of the fire was knocked down,” but crews were continuing to spray hot spots. The plan was to use thermal imaging cameras to identify hot areas as crews went through the buildings.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office was already on its way to the scene to investigate the possible cause of the fire.
The complex is owned by HUD, but operated by Harbor, providing services for Wood County Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Services.
Amanda Kern, executive director of WCADAMHS, said the agency has an agreement with two local hotels to provide emergency short term housing for Harbor residents. But Kern said that is only a temporary solution.
“Staying in a hotel is not conducive to well-being – ultimately that’s what everyone deserves,” she said.
First Presbyterian Church offered to open its deacons shop tonight to provide free clothing to those displaced by the fire.
As the scene continued to smolder, the residents stood by.
Robert Brown had been home watching movies, when he ran nearby to Krogers to get cigarettes.
“When I came back, the whole building was up in flames,” he said. His upstairs apartment was one of the most badly damaged, but Brown was holding out hope that his cat, Carmen, had escaped.
Josie Clark was napping in her apartment when she was jarred awake.
“They were pounding on my door to get me out,” Clark said of a neighbor and police officer. “I came out, seeing nothing but smoke.”
Clark stood outside barefooted, stunned by the loss.
“I have no shoes. I have no meds. I have no pictures,” she said. “I don’t have anything.”
But while her possessions were lost, her large family flocked to the scene. Her three daughters could not reach their mom, since she left her cell phone in the apartment.
“We couldn’t get a hold of her,” one daughter said. “Thank God she woke up.”
At another apartment in the complex, it wasn’t a neighbor who roused John Clark.
“God had that shield over me,” Clark said as he stood by a fire truck. He briefly went back inside to get a bag with his keys and cell phone.
Charles Hebert grabbed what he could from his home. “All I had time for was my glasses, boots and ID.”
Some residents were more fortunate, like Brian Ulch, who lives in the most southern apartment.
“I heard a tenant screaming, running across the parking lot with their dog, and saw a lot of black smoke.” But Ulch’s apartment was spared any fire, smoke or water damage.
“I’m hoping I get to stay here tonight,” he said.
A neighbor handed Ulch his guitar, which he had earlier asked firefighters to get out of his apartment before it could be destroyed.
Neighbors who live in the Parkview manufactured home park just east of the apartment complex were shaken by the blaze.
Tonya Johnson was on her way home when she noticed the darkness in the sky.
“I was 10 miles down the road and could see the smoke,” she said.
Sheila Johnson was preparing for dinner when the fire started.
“My husband put pork chops on the grill and came inside. When he went back out, it was nothing but smoke,” she said.
