Fire burns Edmonds Drive apartments

An apartment fire in the 1400 block of North Edmonds Drive on Friday displaced 12 to 15 residents and did at least $250,000 in damage, according to the Carson City Fire Department.

No one was seriously hurt in the fire, although two people who helped rescue others suffered burns on their arms and drove themselves to the hospital, said Battalion Chief Bob Charles. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Suddenly homeless residents sat in the ever-growing chill as the sun set Friday night, speculating about what the future held.

“I’ve seen fire on TV, but to actually see it happen ...” Beverly Walker said. She added that at least eight of the displaced residents were children.

The fire department received a call about the blaze at 4:26 p.m., Charles said. It started in one of the two-story building’s upstairs units, both of which are a total loss, he said. A downstairs unit sustained heavy smoke and water damage.

Terrill Smothers described the charred remains in the apartment and said the roof was hanging at a low angle.

“It’s bad in there,” said Smothers, who has lived at the complex for three years.

East Fork and Lyon County fire crews also were part of the response, which involved three fire engines, an air unit, two ambulances and two chief officers, Charles said.

“Hopefully, the renters have renters’ insurance,” he said. “Hopefully, the community helps.”