Several Displaced After Tulsa Apartment Blaze

Tulsa firefighters battled a fire at the Villas at Yorktown on Friday afternoon.

Friday, March 30th 2012, 3:40 pm

By: News On 6


Tulsa firefighters battled an apartment complex fire at 48th and Yorktown Friday afternoon. One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for possible dehydration.

Fire investigators have shut off power to the Villas at Yorktown apartment complex as they look for a cause. Residents can not return home until the power has been restored.  

The fire has heavily damaged multiple units at the Villas at Yorktown. Three units burned, and another five were damaged by smoke and water.

The fire started at about 2:30 p.m., and it took firefighters about 45 minutes to get it under control.

Tulsa firefighters battled flames and the warm temperatures with this massive apartment fire.

Donna Leverette only moved in to these apartments last Wednesday.

"I Grabbed my dog and my purse and got out. I was in the Royal Arms fire a couple of years ago," Donna said.

Donna says those were the two most important things that she couldn't bear to lose in the fire. Kalen Johnson agrees.

"I was in my apartment and then automatically, it started blowing smoke and flames and I was really scared," Johnson said.

As the flames spread to several units at the Villas at Yorktown, the 21-year-old watched and prayed that his cat made it out safely. SkyNews6 captured flames coming through the roof of the building.

Along with firefighters' efforts, firewalls saved the majority of the units on this building by blocking the flames from spreading. It took firefighters about 45 minutes to the fire under control.

When they searched the damage, Johnson wondered if he'd lost his friend.

Tulsa Apartment Complex Fire

"It scared me to death," he said.

But there little Oliver was, scared, but safe. Johnson hugged the firefighters' necks and told the actual firefighter who found his cat that he's his hero.

A sweet moment, hidden in a hard day for so many.

"He means the world to me," Johnson said.

"That's pretty much our job, that's what we're here for. That's what it's all about, even pets are family to most people, so that's what we're about," said Stacy Belk, Tulsa District Fire Chief.

Investigators say they found evidence of fire in a heater closet that spread to the attic, but they're still trying to find the cause of the fire.

The injured firefighter will remain in the hospital overnight for observation.

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