24 Units Damaged In Wednesday Morning Tulsa Apartment Complex Fire

Police shut down Riverside Drive early Wednesday morning because of a fire at an apartment complex at the corner of Riverside and Denver.  

Tulsa Fire got the call shortly before 6:30 a.m. at the Denver Park Apartments at 17th and South Riverside.  Fire destroyed 4 units and smoke and water damaged 20 other apartments at one building in the complex.    

The Tulsa Fire Department called in a second alarm to make sure everyone was out of the building.  

Tulsa Fire Captain Stan May says the fire started in a first floor apartment and spread up to the attic area of the building.  Firefighters were kept busy accessing the attic area and at one point had to create vent holes in the roof to put out the fire.  

Tulsa Police shut down Riverside Drive and Denver because of fire equipment in the roadway, which caused traffic to back up in the northbound lanes of Riverside Drive.

May says investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire.  There have been no reports of injuries.

The Red Cross was called to the scene to help residents who were displaced by the fire. 

One resident, Nanette Hansmeyer said her apartment was destroyed in the fire.  She was not at home at the time and got a call from a neighbor saying firefighters were kicking in her door.

Another resident, Joe Holagha said he smelled smoke earlier in the morning, but wasn't concerned until he heard firetrucks pulling up to the complex. 

Tulsa Police say Riverside Drive remains closed at this hour.