A fire in a southwest Atlanta rooming house yesterday evening has resulted in an elderly man being hospitalized with third-degree burns, local officials report. The Atlanta Fire Department responded to a call at the 1100 block of Ira St. SW, with flames erupting around 8 p.m. According to FOX 5, fire crews saw flames coming from one of the rooms upon arrival and rescued the man who was trapped. He is currently receiving treatment at Grady Memorial Hospital, but his condition has not been disclosed.
Additionally, all other residents, including a young child, managed to escape unharmed, and efforts by firefighters successfully contained the blaze to the single structure. The American Red Cross is now assisting those displaced by the incident. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Atlanta Fire Department personnel suspect it was electrical, as detailed in the FOX 5 account.
Anare Holmes, public information officer with Atlanta Fire and Rescue, revealed in an interview with Atlanta News First that the structure is a duplex housing eight to ten people in a rooming house setup. Holmes stated that the home suffered not only water damage from the firefighting efforts but also from smoke damage and soot. Though initial reports indicated that the victim was an sole individual in the home at the fire's outbreak, the Red Cross is assisting other residents from the other side of the home as well.
Neighbor Greg Smith recounted to Atlanta News First hearing sirens, then observing smoke originating from the house. Describing the residents as "very quiet," Smith noted that the house, which was usually not problematic, housed "good people sit out on the porch." He also observed firefighters performing CPR on the injured man, expressing his hope for everyone's safety and well-being after the unfortunate event.
