FIRE GUTS HARTWICK TOWERS APARTMENT
Jeff Amoros and Steven Overly
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: News
|
Jerry Engle, a firefighter with the Riverdale Fire Department, said two women were rescued from the gutted apartment. But Prince George's County Fire Department Spokesman Mark Brady said in a a statement that no one was hospitalized. The cause of the fire, which Brady said started in the bedroom, is being investigated.
Residents of the six-story condominum complex, which is not equipped with sprinklers, described a chaotic scene after the fire broke out. No fire alarms sounded, residents said, and they banged on doors to urge neighbors to evacuate. Brady said that when firefighters arrived, a "hectic evacuation" was underway.
Multiple fire departments responded to the scene, setting numerous ladders along the outside of the building to transport equipment. Brady said the two-alarm fire brought 65 firefighters and paramedics to the scene.
Students who urged their neighbors to evacuate said many were oblivious to the emergency.
"There were people five, six stories up who didn't even know there was a fire," said junior journalism major Ali Libfeld.
Brady said because of the building's age, the alarm is operated manually and does not respond to smoke or heat. Students who live in the building said they pulled alarms, but none sounded. Investigators are checking the building to confirm that manual alarms were pulled and will look into students' complaints that the building's alarms were non-functional, Brady said.
Junior kinesiology major Matt Stein, who lives on the third floor, said he found out about the fire from other students. He said the smoke detector in his apartment went off, but not the building fire alarm.
Senior communications major Clare Meyers said she lives in the apartment above the one hit by the fire, and said she heard a loud sound from the window below and went to her window.
"I heard the popping noise, but I never would have noticed," Meyers said. "It was like something out of a movie."
Senior staff writer Ben Block contributed to this report. overlydbk@gmail.com; jeff.amoros@gmail.com
Submit a letter to the editor or post a comment below.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 10
Courtney Fallon
posted 10/12/07 @ 10:26 AM EST
This story is appalling. I live in Knox towers and you better believe that I am going out and buying a fire extinguisher for my apartment...TODAY. 6 floors of 50 kids per floor and there isn't a functioning sprinkler system? NO FIRE ALARM??? This is a HUGE setback for University housing. (Continued…)
Concerned student
posted 10/12/07 @ 1:56 PM EST
While I do agree that the College Park Towers are responsible for not having a sprinkler system and am extremely upset that there is not even a building wide warning system, it is unfair to blame the university and claim it is a set back for "university housing". (Continued…)
james
posted 10/12/07 @ 3:00 PM EST
I disagree that college students are more responsible than the university, just b/c they choose to live in a place that is close to the bars that are the center of social life at maryland and has a much more open living enviornment than any place on campus. (Continued…)
Jordan
posted 10/12/07 @ 4:40 PM EST
I currently live in Hartwick and before I signed the lease I knew what an old and decrepit building it was. For any student that is surprised by the condition of the building than you are just oblivious. (Continued…)
maya sherman
posted 10/12/07 @ 10:02 PM EST
these 2 apt complexes are owned by the same management company if u live at knox or hartwick call and scream at the HARTWICK management that these 2 buildings MUST finally be brought up to code. (Continued…)
PUNEET
puneet
posted 10/15/07 @ 2:20 AM EST
Its very unfortunate to know about the lack of proper Alarm Systems in College Park - Recall that UMCP is recognised as the world-leader in Fire Protection Engineering and it is sad to see that the local authorities have not been proactive in this area : they have such a wealth of knowledge-people right there !!
I would now expect that the local county takes the lead in this field and enact & enforce legislation for the Life Safety of all residents in CP. (Continued…)
Post a Comment