Massive fire rips through Mesa apartment building
MESA, Ariz. - People in one Mesa apartment building were left with nothing on July 12, after a massive fire gutted their building.
Per Mesa officials, the fire happened in the area of Dobson and Broadway.
"Fire started within the walls of two units and quickly spread to the roof," read a portion of the statement. ". When firefighters went to the roof, they found heavy fire below them in the attic space and had to quickly exit the roof."
"We were riding down here, and there [were] hundreds of feet of smoke, a fire going on the top of the roof and stuff," said Aiden Mattel, who lives in the area.
"I was at work and I got a phone call saying that I need to come home to evacuate the building," Charon Baker recounted. "When I got here, they were banging on our doors, saying we need to come out."
Officials say crews battled the fire from a defensive position, as all interior crews had to leave the building due to the potential of roof collapse. At least 24 units are gone, and Mesa Fire officials don't know yet how many people have los their homes. However, one dog was found alive at the scene.
"It's just really surreal," said Gillian Maloney.
Maloney was planning to move out on Sunday. Now, she is left with nothing.
"You never think that it’s going to be your building where everything is burnt," said Maloney. "I had everything that I grew up with. My childhood boxes, my bed, every piece of clothing I own. Everything important."
Residents showed us text messages from management about an hour before the fire broke out, stating the water would be shut off for an emergency maintenance repair. Officials are still trying to determine if this was related to the fire in any way.
"Our first initial reports came from a maintenance worker. It stated that there was smoke in the walls, so limited information," said Mesa Fire Captain Cale Ackerley.