JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A fire in the Confederate Point neighborhood trapped four people and "seriously" injured one Thursday night.
Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department Captain Eric Prosswimmer says there were 70-75 firefighters on site at the Sound at Peninsula Apartments. He says crews responded to "heavy fire conditions." The fire was "pretty overwhelming," he said, with crews having to act aggressively right away. Four people were trapped inside when crews arrived, but they were able to be rescued.
Prosswimmer says the fire was a second-alarm fire. At one point, firefighters had to be pulled out of the attic of the apartment with the most severe fire "for their safety," and a floor collapsed. Crews further down in the building were able to put the fire out successfully and save the rest of the building.
Prosswimmer says one person was taken to the hospital with "very serious injuries," which are not life-threatening. They pulled five cats and two dogs out of the apartments, but Prosswimmer says one cat is still unaccounted for.
"Crews did a great job," he said. Eight units are displaced, with four having heavy smoke damage and water damage. "They probably lost more than the rest."
The Bureau of Fire & Arson Investigations are coming to investigate the cause of the fire. Prosswimmer says this is standard if JFRD does not know the cause of the fire.
