Lubbock Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire at 27th Street and Avenue Q after an apartment caught fire at Park Tower Apartments at about 3:25 p.m. Thursday.
Reports of smoke and flames seen coming out of the second story corner unit of the 15 story apartment complex.
“I’m looking around and there’s smoke coming out of the bottom floor,” Resident Travan Dunn said. “I still hadn’t put two and two together until another car pulled up right here and they were calling people and they had their video-cameras out. So I looked down and there was smoke coming out the first floor.”
LFR sent 11 fire trucks with 50 firefighters total to the scene, as well as EMS units.
“When we got there we heard someone was trapped,” LFR’s Captain Kevin Ivy said. “There were two people inside trying to put the fire out before they got out.”
Ivy said the two residents made it out safely on their own. One man had injuries on his leg but refused treatment from EMS. No other injuries were reported.
“Any damage they have right now is from the second floor, that balcony,” Ivy said. “It did get smoke and fire damage in that unit, but nothing below or above.”
All residents were evacuated from the apartment complex for a couple of hours while the fire was being contained, and from LFR searching for any gas leaks or carbon monoxide.
The fire was 100% contained at about 4:15 p.m. and residents were allowed back inside shortly after.
The Fire Marshal’s office is now conducting an investigation on the cause of the fire.
