JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Video sent in by a resident shows the damage from the fire at the Riverbanks Apartments on Lane Avenue that ended with 34 people being displaced from their homes.
The American Red Cross responded to the fire on Thursday. The Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department said the fire started in a bedroom and extended into the attic.
Take a look at the damage from inside one of the apartments.
On the outside of the building, black smoke can be seen all over the roof, the windows are blown out, and even a “Condemned” sign not allowing residents to come back in to grab belongings.
Ekira Jackson, a resident, said she got a phone call while at work and rushed straight home to her kids.
“When I got home, it was a whole bunch of ambulances and police. I was so confused I couldn’t even enter into the driveway,” Jackson said.
She said he son and her sister were leaving the pool and went back into the house when he saw the smoke come out of the walls.
“He didn’t know what was going on,” Jackson said. “He was confused and somebody came and knocked on the door and they said, ‘You have to evacuate the building.’”
Jackson said she left with only what she could grab.
“All I tried to get was my son’s shoes, because I just bought them a pair of shoes,” Jackson said.
Take a look at the damage from the inside of her apartment.
She said her son doesn’t have any clothes and they’re smoke-damaged.
“So none of my belongings, my bed or my TVs or anything, I can’t get them out of the house,” Jackson said.
After only being in the apartment for a month, Jackson said she now has to stay with her sister while they figure out the next steps.
“My son was crying and he told me that he was so hurt because he knew I was working so hard. I was doing hair, I was Ubering, and everything to get this apartment, and I paid my rent on time. That’s so big for me, because I have a lot of kids, and it’s hard,” Jackson said.
Jackson started a GoFundMe to help regain what was lost. Click here to donate.
Volunteers helped provide financial assistance for the families affected by the blaze that impacted 12 apartment units.
Officials said 34 people were displaced, including 25 adults and nine children.
No one was injured.
Most units have smoke damage, and JFRD turned off the power for the entire building.
Power is expected to be restored as early as Thursday.
The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
