Flames broke out at an apartment complex near Creighton University in Omaha on Saturday afternoon, sending firefighters racing to the scene near 27th and Cuming streets around 2 p.m. Everyone inside made it out safely, and no injuries were reported.
The fire tore through the complex in the area surrounding the university campus, according to KETV, which reported crews on scene battling the blaze. The Omaha Fire Department confirmed that nobody was hurt, and that residents and others at the complex got out safely before the situation escalated further.
What Caused the Fire Remains Unclear
As of Saturday, the investigation into what sparked the fire was still ongoing, per the same report. Fire officials have not released further details about how extensively the building was damaged or how many units or residents were affected, and those specifics were not available as crews continued working the scene.
The Creighton-area fire comes after another Omaha apartment blaze caused serious damage on March 22, 2020. A fire at the Enclave apartment complex at 5125 S. 99th Plaza in southwest Omaha destroyed one building entirely and displaced 22 people, according to omaha.com. That Sunday afternoon fire caused extensive damage to the building, the outlet reported.
A Family Caught Mid-Move
Among those affected by the Enclave fire were Rich and Marisz Soriano, who were in the process of moving into the complex when the fire broke out in their building, per omaha.com's reporting. Their experience underscored how quickly a residential fire can upend plans, even for people who had just arrived.
A Broader Pattern in Residential Fires
National data suggest the stakes of residential fires have been shifting even as overall fire counts decline. U.S. Fire Administration estimates covering 2014 through 2023 found a 6% decrease in residential fires overall, but a 5% increase in fire deaths and an 8% decrease in injuries during that same period, according to the agency's statistics.
Back near Creighton University, the cause of Saturday's fire had not been determined, and the Omaha Fire Department's investigation remained active. No additional information on damage or displaced residents had been released as of Saturday evening.
