LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Three people -- including one police officer -- were injured after fire crews responded to an apartment fire in Hikes Point on Churchill Park Drive Wednesday morning.
The fire broke out just after 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 12 at the Churchill Park apartments, near the intersection of Breckenridge Lane and Hikes Lane.
Although eight units were destroyed in the fire, none of the residents was injured. Fire crews arrived at the apartments within five minutes of receiving the call at 10:42 a.m. By that time, flames were already shooting through the roof, burning out of control.
"When we arrived on the scene we found heavy fire and heavy smoke coming out of one of the units," said Col. Pat Walsh with the McMahan Fire Department. "It had already advanced to the point where it was in the attic."
Joanne Simpson, who lives in the apartments, said she heard a loud "boom and a bunch of racket going on. And I went to the front room because I was in the bedroom to see what was going on. And the hall was smothered in so much black smoke. I shut the door immediately, thinking I got to get out of one of these windows, and Lord how am I going to do that."
Simpson and her husband were trapped in their apartment until Eric Durbin, who was visiting a friend, came to the rescue, smashing through a window.
"I just told them to scoot back and took my shirt off, wrapped it around my fist and punched out the window to help them out," Durbin said.
Simpson says she relied on faith.
"Then I just went on by faith, and dived to him [Durbin] and climbed out the window," Simpson said. "And then he pulled my husband out."
And Durbin also rescued a third person but he says he deserves no special recognition.
"I don't think I'm a hero," Durbin said. "I just did what anyone else would do."
Three people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation -- including a metro police officer. Eight people were treated at the scene, and several others drove themselves to the hospital.
There was one more rescue: a cat that made it out safely.
The Metro Police Meth Lab team also called to the team to help determine what caused the fire -- neighbors have their suspicions and have complained about an odor -- like rotten eggs -- in the hallway.
"And this scent lasted for a day," Simpson said. And it then go away, and then: as you see, boom! fire! here we go, running out of the building.
The flames originated in a building in the corner of the complex and involved eight units. All eight units were destroyed. Three people had to be rescued -- including a woman who told WDRB News her neighbor had to practically break down the door to get her out.
Three people were transported to the hospital, including one police officer who may have been suffering from smoke inhalation. We're told none of the injuries were serious.
[SLIDESHOW: CHURCHILL PARK APARTMENT FIRE]
The McMahon Fire Department, as well as fire departments from Lyndon and Jeffersontown, responded.
Fire officials say the apartments were so badly burned that they will be unable to determine if a meth lab was indeed responsible for the blaze.
If fire officials are able to determine the cause of the blaze, we will update you accordingly.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
Joanne Simpson thought she was trapped and considered jumping.
Eric Durbin pulled three people from the burning apartments, but says just did what anyone else would do."
