KENNETH CITY, Fla. — Dozens of people are without a home after a fire ripped through their apartment building late Wednesday night, according to Pinellas County Fire Rescue.
Flames broke out around 11 p.m. at the Ashford Bayside Apartment Homes, located at 5750 58th Way N in Kenneth City.
One person was treated for smoke inhalation and released from the hospital, said Susan Boisvert, the emergency management coordinator with Pinellas Park. No other significant injuries were reported, she added.
There's water damage throughout one of the buildings on the complex despite the fire having been isolated to its third floor, Pinellas Park Fire Chief Brett Schlatterer said Thursday morning.
He said at least 20 units were damaged. The American Red Cross has since confirmed about 22 families were displaced.
It's still not known exactly how the fire started.
Six Red Cross volunteers were dispatched and helped nearly 50 displaced residents from about 16 units, offering financial assistance and emergency supplies.
"As the morning has gone on, we have received several additional calls from residents who were not present earlier, and our volunteers will work with them virtually to provide services," the Red Cross wrote in an email. "The residents who have urgent health needs (loss of medications, etc.) will be connected with our disaster health services and mental health volunteers, and caseworkers will follow up with each resident in the coming days to provide additional recovery guidance and referrals to community social services."
10 Investigates pulled an annual inspection report from January for the complex, which read that its owners were not able to provide the complex’s fire alarm system report. Apartment complexes are required to have a private agency come out, inspect the system and provide a report.
March is actually Red Cross month. Readers interested in helping support assistance efforts like this one can click here, and anybody interested in becoming a volunteer can find information at this link.