Firefighters responded to the Villa Serene Apartment Complex at 399 East 14th St. at 4:48 a.m. Wednesday, where a blaze broke out on the 11th-floor. Multiple fire departments responded to the scene.
Fire officials have confirmed one death; Bernard G. Marshall, 63, died after falling from his apartment window that was on the 11th floor of the 12 story building.
"The fire appears to have started and was mostly contained to apartment 1103, which was the apartment of Marshall," according to Elmira Heights Police Chief Rick Churches said in a news release. "Marshall did fall from his apartment window, which was on the 11th floor of the 12-story building. Although cause of death cannot be stated at this point Marshall did appear to be escaping the intense flames and smoke that was coming from the apartment."
"The building is built in a way that contained it [the fire]," said Elmira Heights Fire Chief Michael Cadek. "The fire had a really good head start because it was already blowing out the window when we got the call."
The fire was under control by 5:15 a.m. Firefighters used a special technique to combat the flames
"We have an aerial device that we used to hit it [the fire] from the outside," said Fire Chief Cadek. "And then once we hit the majority of it, the crews went inside, because they had to climb up 11 floors to get there, then they made the initial attack from the inside."
120 people were evacuated from the building. Some units sustained water damage from the fire response. While some people were able to move back into the building by Wednesday evening, others will be out for a few days.
The Red Cross is assisting those displaced. Residents are staying optimistic.
Chemung County Fire Investigators, New York State Fire Investigators and Elmira Heights Police are investigating the cause of the fire.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
