Firefighters quickly put out flames in midtown Omaha apartment

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - More than 40 people were forced out of their homes when a fire broke out in their midtown apartment this afternoon.

Omaha Fire Department officials say no one was seriously injured because of the fire but everyone involved had to deal with today’s hot and humid weather. Fire crews were called to an apartment complex near South 25th Ave. and Jones Street.

“We encountered a good amount of fire in one of the apartments, two of our engine crews were able to knock the fire down pretty quick,” said Battalion Chief Danny Gates.

Fire crews had the fire under control in about 15 minutes and were able to contain the fire to the apartment where it started. But 24 adults and 20 children had to leave their homes.

“With the fire getting out quickly, we were able to get the crews to be able to remove their gear, their coats, and their air packs and each of our battalion chief vehicles and our light air truck carry a lot of water, a lot of Gatorade. Just make sure the guys get all hydrated and everything we can as quickly as we can,” said Gates.

“We heard people coming from up top they were kind of yelling and screaming so...the hallways were all full of smoke, on my floor, we couldn’t tell exactly which floor it was because every door had smoke coming out from underneath,” said resident Dena Walkingbull.

“I heard people screaming and I start smelling smoke. I looked out my back door, I’m in number three, number two is completely involved in flames and I was like ‘Oh my God’ and I called 911 and they were already on the way,” said resident Rob Toscano.

Many of the residents could only grab a few things on their way out. Rob actually had to be escorted back out the building after he tried to get back in before fire crews were done with their work.

“To put on some clothes. I’m naked, I don’t have my wallet, I don’t have no money, I cant see, I don’t have my glasses,” said Toscano.

Fire investigators were on the scene talking to residents trying to figure out how the fire started. They even put a drone in the air to get an ariel view of the apartment.

Omaha Fire Department officials say almost all of the residents who were forced out of the building because of the fire and smoke are now back in their homes.

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