Pasco apartment complex fire sends dozens running out into frigid weather

An early morning fire at a Pasco apartment complex sent dozens of people out of their warm beds into frigid temperatures.

Firefighters are still investigating what started the blaze in one of the first-floor units of the J building at the Stonegate Apartments on Road 68 shortly after 1 a.m.

Pasco firefighters arrived to find flames shooting from J103 and threatening to spread to two apartments above it, said Ben Shearer, Pasco fire’s public information officer.

Once firefighters were able to get it under control, the bottom apartment was severely damaged, he said.

The two above it have smoke, water and fire damage, and the third-floor apartments have smoke damage.

Two Ben Franklin buses were brought in to keep residents warm while they waited for information about their apartments.

People from nine apartments could not return to their units because of possible structural or electrical damage. They all were able to find somewhere to sleep Friday morning, said Shearer.

No one was hurt, but one person was taken to the hospital because an existing medical condition flared up in the escape.

Firefighters stayed at the complex for about three hours to monitor the scene.

The apartment building’s smoke alarms were sounding but the complex did not have a sprinkler system installed, Shearer said.

This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 9:56 AM.