Careless smoking caused fire at Chardonnay Apartments in Springfield

The fire broke out Wednesday morning and displaced about 75 residents.

March 14, 2012|by Paula Morehouse, Linda Russell, Dustin Hodges, Deb Enlow, Justin Lux and Brett Onstott, KY3 News | news@ky3.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Springfield fire marshal says careless smoking caused the fire at Chardonnay Apartments, 820 E. Montclair St., on Wednesday morning. A resident put cigarette butts in a tin can on a second floor balcony and the butts caught something on fire, the fire marshal said.

The Springfield Fire Department got the first call about the fire at 6:15 a.m. The building that burned has 48 apartments and about 75 residents. No residents were hurt. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries.

Assistant Fire Chief Randy Villines estimates the damage at $2 million. He doesn't believe residents will be able to move back for some time because of fire, smoke and water damage.

Neighbors alerted other renters to flames in in the 600 building. One renter called 9-1-1 when they heard smoke detectors going off. The fire quickly spread from one side of the building to the other (not from one building to another, as previously reported), despite a concrete block fire wall.

The fire chief says low water pressure, high voltage power lines and strong winds made it difficult to put out the huge fire. Crews from City Utilities of Springfield were able to increase the water presssure to help firefighters and shut off the current in the electric lines.

Firefighters finished putting out hot spots at mid-morning.

American Red Cross disaster services workers worked to help find temporary shelter for the residents. Around 12:15 p.m., however, they found out the management of Chardonnay Apartments planned to taking care of housing the displaced people.

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Edited news release from Oak Star Bank:

In light of the fire at the Chardonnay Apartments, OakStar Bank has provided a way for the community to lend a helping hand by setting up a fire recovery fund open for donations to benefit the families involved in the fire. Donations to the fire recovery fund can be made by individuals or on behalf of community organizations.

Contributions received will be given to the Greater Ozarks Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross to be distributed to tenants of the Chardonnay Apartment complex affected by the fire.

To donate, come in or drive-through OakStar Bank, 1020 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, Missouri 65807, and ask for the Chardonnay Apartment account. OakStar Bank started the account with $500 to help the involved individuals.

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