Residents rescued from apartment fire

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - Four adults were displaced following an apartment fire overnight in Newport News. Several residents were rescued by firefighters from the Riverwalk Apartments, located at 520 Bellwood Road.

Neighbors could hear what they thought was the smoke detector in another apartment.

"We heard the alarm going off, but we thought something like maybe the battery is kind of dead," said resident Igarhaji Mansary.

Next thing they knew, black smoke was everywhere.

"The smoke was so bad, I couldn't get downstairs, so I broke out the screen in the back window and that's when I saw the flames," said resident Kenya Jackson.

The Newport News Fire Department responded to the Riverwalk Apartments around 11:15 p.m. Sunday, and residents tried to find any way out they could.

"I almost jumped out the window because I couldn't even breathe in and out of that stuff," said Mansary.

Firefighters had to talk Mansary out of jumping and quickly came to his rescue.

"They [brought] a ladder up there, and they put a ladder by the window, and that's how they rescued my life," said Mansary.

Fire officials said residents of the second floor apartments came to the front windows. Fire crews placed ground ladders to the windows to gain access to them. Four adults were rescued by fire crews who brought them down ladders.

Firefighters got Kenya Jackson our of her smoke filled apartment and then went back for her dog Lady.

"She was hiding underneath the bed," said Jackson.

While they can't go home right away, safety is what matters right now.

"I'm very thankful I'm alive," said Jackson.

The Red Cross is helping these families, and the leasing manager was also there Sunday night. Jackson said they have some apartments set up for them already.

Fire officials said medics were called to the scene, but no one was transported to the hospital.

The fire was contained to a first floor apartment. There was fire damage to the first floor apartment and smoke damage to the other apartments.

Damage is estimated to be around $25,000. Four apartments were condemned.

Fire officials believe a lamp started the fire.