16 Units At South Tulsa Apartment Complex Go Up In Flames

Jennifer Broaddus, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A large fire destroyed 16 units at a south Tulsa apartment complex and injured a woman early Sunday morning.

Tulsa fire was called out to the Monaco Park Apartments located in the 4900 block of S. 72nd E. Ave around 6:35 a.m.

Heavy flames and smoke had quickly engulfed the complex by the time firefighters arrived.

"Heavy flames and smoke was shooting out of the apartment when our guys arrived. We went in for an aggressive fire attack," said Tulsa Fire Spokesperson Tim Smallwood.

Crews had to pull back after 30 minutes of aggressively attacking the fire and "surround and drown" the blaze that was raging out of control.

Monaco Park Apartment Fire

The fire was finally contained about 45 minutes later.

"Thank goodness the wind wasn't as strong as it has been or it could have been a lot worse,"  Smallwood said.

A bed-ridden woman had to be rescued by firefighters but suffered only minor smoke inhalation.

Jerry Lewis, a tenant at the complex, said he was sleeping at the time of fire and credited his neighbor for saving his family's life.

"My family got out safe thanks to my neighbor waking us up," Lewis said. "This first thing I could think was my daughter. I don't want anything to happen to her. She's my life. That and my wife."

Many of the tenants at the apartments did not have renter's insurance.

Red Cross was on scene and assisting residents with lodging, food and clothing.

Investigators are looking into the cause of the fire at this time.