As many as 11 people were displaced during a large fire at a multi-family housing complex in Columbus Wednesday morning.
No one was injured during the 10:54 a.m. fire in Building 17 of the Two Worlds Condominiums, Columbus firefighters said.
With four two-story condos, Building 17 is located at Abundance and Prosperity drives, between Midway Street and Beam Road, east of National Road.
On the west side of the building, remodeling contractor Kenan Al-Husseini was working on the main level of 2065 Abundance Drive, occupied by James and Misty Curry. That’s when he saw a small amount of smoke coming out of a wall dividing the condo from 2055 Abundance Drive and went next door to warn them.
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The remodeler, who turned off all power to the Curry residence, ran to the adjacent condo to the south occupied by Amanda Hawn and Trapper Boght, located at 2055 Abundance St. By then, the adults were already outside. According to Hawn, her 10-year-old daughter, Ali, saw what she described as fire coming out of a wall. Ali and another relative, Christine Campbell, made sure everybody was awake before evacuating their home.
After making sure the Curry’s dog was outside, Al-Husseini went to the other side of the building where two other condos were located. He alerted Tish Terry of 2050 Miracle Drive, who got her two daughters and three cats outside to safety. The owner of the fourth condo, Katherine Thweatt, was in California when the fire broke out.
Smoke and a small amount of flame was seen by a witness behind a fenced-in patio area of Hawn’s apartment before the fire suddenly shot up quickly to the second floor.
Once the fire climbed up to the top of the building, the winds quickly fanned the flames and caused them to spread across the building’s roof, firefighter Doug Hollenbeck said. Firefighters say at least 65% of the roof was destroyed.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Columbus Fire inspector Scott Bonnell said. However, Hawn said a firefighter told her it appears to have started in the vicinity of a fuse box.
The building was declared a total loss by Columbus firefighters, who used two 75-foot ladder trucks to spray water onto the flames. However, hot spots continued to flare up for about two hours after first responders arrived.
Each of the masonry and wood units, which were built in 1973, contain 1,249 square feet of living space, according to only county records.
Although the Currys say they have already made arrangements to stay with family members, Columbus Fire spokesman Capt. Mike Wilson said his department will work with other agencies to ensure those who have no place to go will be provided shelter.
Due to the amount of fire, smoke and water damage, much of the property inside the units was damaged or destroyed, firefighters said. The Salvation Army is providing fire victim assistance and emergency shelter for the occupants of one unit. The Salvation Army is also providing holiday assistance for the children involved at this incident.
Firefighters from all but one of Columbus’ fire stations were called to the scene, along with seven different fire trucks that helped bring the fire under control, Lay said.
Agencies that assisted at the scene include the Columbus Police Department, Columbus City Utilities, Vectren Energy, Duke Energy and the Columbus Regional Health Ambulance Service.
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