Neighbors Stick Together at Apartment Fire

By Candice Nelson
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: March 9, 2008

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Seventeen people don’t have a home after an apartment fire at the The Summit in Roanoke, but nobody got hurt. Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, but they think it may have started on the back porch. The apartments that burned were in the 100 block of Summit Way on the left side, affecting 5 apartments. The right side of the unit had some smoke damage, officials said.
    Bobbie Evans said her son, who was visiting, saw the flames and yelled out to her. That’s when Bobbie ran around to different doors in the apartment warning them about the fire.
  James Balderston is also related to Evans, and said he helped an elderly couple get out of the apartment.
  Now, the flames are out, but emotions are still running high. Officials say the Red Cross will help those people displaced.
  Although nobody got hurt, a dog and cat were inside the apartment. The cat is at an emergency vet, while the dog is healthy.
  Roanoke Fire-EMS hopes to have a cause by Monday. Officials say the apartments with the most damage will have their electricity and gas cut off while they investigate.