Apartment fire displaces 15 occupants

LONGVIEW — Fifteen occupants of a Longview apartment complex have been displaced following a stove-top fire in one of the apartments on Wednesday afternoon. The Longview Fire Department responded to a reported apartment fire at Townhouse South Apartments in Longview at approximately 12:49 p.m. on Wednesday after smoke alarms alerted occupants. According to our news partner KETK, responding units observed ” a large column of black smoke.” Firefighters found heavy smoke and fire coming from an apartment, and the fire was spreading into adjacent apartments.

The fire was brought under control through fire attacks, ventilation, salvage and overhaul operations using on-scene resources. No injuries were reported, but 15 occupants were displaced and the American Red Cross is assisting them.

The Longview Fire Marshal’s Office conducted an investigation after the fire was extinguished. Investigators determined the area of origin to be from a stove top, caused by unattended cooking.

The estimated property loss is undetermined at this time, the fire department said.

The fire department urges and reminds residents to never leave cooking unattended and to ensure smoke alarms are installed and working properly.