Oct 6, 2019, 06:59 PM
1 Dead, 1 in Serious Condition following tower block fire
EVOCITY, ID - One man has died and another woman is in hospital with serious injuries today after a semi-abandoned housing block on the outskirts of EvoCity caught fire.
The Marion County Communications Centre says it received a 911 call just after half 4 today, and an officer was on scene less than a minute later as he was taking a report within sighting distance of the tower. Firefighters arrived on scene shortly after and made their way inside the building to fight the fire and recover victims.
Drone footage via MCFD
Whilst inside battling the firefighters, the entrance to the tower became blocked due to debris, and the stairwell became blocked due to fire. This, according to the Sheriff's Office, stuck a group of firefighters who were treating the casualty on the 4th floor, and stuck two police medics in the stairwell who were proceeding to the 4th floor to assist. These medics eventually managed to reach the 4th floor, where they and the fire department were able to hoist the patient down the elevator shaft to safety, where she was met by EMS and taken to hospital.
Detectives discuss the incident as firefighters shore up the building
Police say that just after the fire was put out by the fire department, a heavily burned man emerged from one of the buildings and was taken to hospital in a critical condition, where he later passed away.
At this time, police say that firefighters remain on scene to damp down the building and prevent a possible collapse, and detectives are investigating the incident.
Published: 22 September 2019
Submitted by: Alyce Locke