JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Moments after a massive fire ravaged an apartment building under construction in Downtown Jacksonville on Jan. 28, many social media users commented under various posts claiming that the developer of the apartment is the same of an apartment in Colorado that caught fire while being constructed.
One user who commented under an Instagram post, made the claim while a couple others responded to their comment believing it is true. The user's comment received over 160 likes.
THE QUESTION
Is the developer of the apartment building that caught fire in Downtown Jacksonville — RISE Doro — the same developer of an apartment complex that caught fire while under construction in Colorado?
THE SOURCES
- First Coast News' TEGNA sister station, KUSA
- Michael Brannen, Media Relations Strategist for city of Aurora, Colo.
THE ANSWER
No, the developer of the RISE Doro apartment building that caught fire in Downtown Jacksonville on Jan. 28, isn't the developer of the apartment complex that caught fire in Aurora, Colo. on Dec. 16.
WHAT WE FOUND
Although under similar circumstances where both apartments were under construction when they caught fire, First Coast News confirms the below social media comments are false.
The RISE Doro apartment building was built by the developer, RISE, while the developer of the apartment complex at the intersection of East Colfax Avenue and Peoria Street in Aurora, Colo. is Grubb Properties, according to Brannen.
Brannen says the apartment complex in Colorado is called Link Apartments Fitz.
Both apartments are being demolished as the cause of the fires is still being investigated by the State Fire Marshal's Office in Florida and Aurora Fire Rescue in Colorado. Wrecking companies are demolishing the apartments due to concerns over a potential collapse.
In addition, RISE does not have any current projects in Colorado, according its website.
The Link Apartments Fitz fire prompted a '5-alarm fire' response, while the RISE Doro apartment fire caused a '3-alarm fire' response by firefighters.