The Rotunda

Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Rebekah Tucker Local firefighters respond to the early morning call to a fire at the northeast Longwood Landings apartment building

Nine apartment residents have been displaced after a fire occurred in the Landings late Monday night. The fire occurred in apartment 407 in the northeast building (building 3) of the Landings, and started at 11:38 p.m. on Monday night in the apartment's dryer. No one was injured. Apartments 407, 307, 207 and the Barnes & Noble Bookstore suffered water damage from the sprinkler system.

Senior Tara Westfall, who lives in apartment 403, explained that everyone got out of the buildings and the Resident Assistant (RA) called a roster of all northeast residents. Senior Jenny Downs, who also lives in apartment 403, said she heard screams and girls shouting to call the police.

Junior Hunter Ellis, resident of apartment 410, heard about the fire and smelled smoke. Ellis said he turned off the breaker switch to the dryer. "We heard girls yelling and went to see what was going on," said Ellis, who used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire as best as he could.

"We just want to make sure that everyone is safe. Safety and security is our job. We are going to take care of everyone," said Longwood University President Patricia Cormier upon arrival at the scene. Associate Director of Off Campus Living Angela Jackson announced around midnight that there was no estimated time when the residents would be allowed back into the building. She encouraged the residents to go into the lounge in the southeast building (building 4).

At approximately 12:20 a.m. Tuesday morning, Cormier explained the goal was to get the water off of the floor and reactivate the system before letting anyone back into the building.

"There was water that did get on the floor. It seemed to be maybe an inch and a half or two inches of water on the floor," said Director of Housing Larry Robertson. Shortly before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning officials confirmed that the building was secure and students could return to their rooms.

The damages at the apartment complex were minimal. Executive Director of the Real Estate Foundation Kenneth Copeland said he estimated the damages would not amount to more than $2,500 or $3,000. "In the grand scheme of things it could have been much worse. We are very pleased," said Copeland. The Real Estate Foundation will cover all of the damages. The residents will not have to pay for any of it.

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