Fire breaks out at Cordova apartments

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A devastating start to the Fourth of July weekend for residents at a Cordova apartment complex.

Their building went up in flames, damaging or destroying 10 units at the Trinity Lakes Apartments off Germantown Parkway.

This was the kind of fireworks no one wanted to see. Nearly a dozen families are now homeless. The only bright spot? Everyone survived.

Memphis Fire Department P.I.O. Qwanesha Ward told Action News 5 the call came in to them at 4:52 p.m. Heavy fire and smoke were already showing when firefighters arrived.

“So we had a neighbor go around and knock on all the doors,” said Ward, “and help other people get out. A lot of residents that I had an opportunity to talk to said when they heard the knock, they ran out and saw flames.”

Action News 5 Chief Meteorologist Ron Childers said Memphis hit a high temperature of 97 degrees Friday, with a blistering heat index of 102 degrees.

MFD’s finest fought the good fight, trying to put the fire out and stay safe working in the hot summer weather.

“Our firefighters are tough,” Ward said, “We have rehab on the scene giving them fluids, making sure they stay hydrated, taking breaks when they need to rest.”

Within an hour the fire was brought under control.

Displaced residents gathered together outside the charred remains of their homes, looking on in disbelief.

The property manager arrived to do a head count to make sure all tenants in the building were accounted for in this tragedy.

No lives were lost and all the pets were okay. MFD reported no injuries among its crews.

Watching how quickly this fire spread from unit to unit led Memphis Fire to share an important reminder for all Memphians.

“Time is of the essence. If anybody notifies you there is a fire and smoke in the building,” said Ward, “you need to get out immediately. Don’t even think for a second to try to go in the house and get something out because that might be a matter of life and death.”

The Red Cross arrived on scene to help the fire victims. Some told Action News 5 they will be staying with family now. The cause of the Trinity Lakes fire is still under investigation.

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