Man Seriously Burned In Broken Arrow Apartment Fire

NewsOn6.com & Dan Bewley, News On 6

BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma -- The Broken Arrow Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of an apartment complex fire Tuesday which destroyed and damaged at least 12 apartments. 

Fire Chief Steve Jarrett says they got the first call shortly before 11 a.m.  When firefighters arrived at the Kenwood Hills Apartments near 177th East Avenue, just south of the BA Expressway, they found a 23-year-old resident suffering from burns to his torso, arms and face.

He says firefighters immediately began administering aid, before transporting the man to the burn center at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa.  His name has not been released.

Jarrett says it took about 30 minutes to get the 3rd floor apartment fire under control.

"The wind conditions today are helping to fuel that fire, moving it through the attic space very quickly," he said.

Two third floor apartments were destroyed and four units below suffered heavy smoke and water damage.   Six more apartment across from a stairwell in the building also suffered smoke damage. 

"I woke up and my friend, Skyler, come into the room and he was screaming frantically, banging and then all of the sudden busted down my door just really fast, he busted down, like, 'Get out, get out now. There's a fire,'" Emily Bargo, a resident, said.

Bargo says the image that will always be with her is that of her neighbor, who she only knew as Daniel, as he ran out of his apartment, the one where the fire is believed to have started.

"You couldn't tell who he was; he just looked like this monster coming out of an apartment building. It was gruesome, it was so bad," she said.

Investigators haven't determined the cause but Bargo says she's worried her neighbor may have played a role.

"And I'm like, 'Daniel, tell me the truth. What happened?' And he was like, 'I don't know.' And I knew exactly at that point he did something he was not proud of," she said.

No firefighters were injured.

Red Cross is assisting affected apartment residents with lodging, clothing and food.