LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The cause of fire that displaced dozens of people is still under investigation, but the way the apartment complex was built accelerated the fire, according to a former fire fighter.  

Louisville Fire officials said a fire at 310 @ Nulu started in or around an HVAC system on the roof of the building on Monday morning. While the building code requires sprinkler systems in the occupied areas of the building like a kitchen or living room, sprinklers aren't required in areas in between apartments or in the ceilings or floors.

Glenn Corbett is a former assistant fire chief from New Jersey and an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College in New York City. He said the building code accepted across the country doesn't do enough to contain a fire in residential buildings like 310 @ Nulu.

"This is another example here in Louisville, another wake up call for the code industry to say 'look stop building them this way,'" Corbert said.

IMAGES | Phoenix Hill neighborhood apartment fire

Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said firefighters arrived within three minutes when alarms started sounding around 6 a.m. But the fire spread quickly. 

"Because once this took off the fire gets in the void space, ran the attics, started getting in the void spaces in the floors, runs through there and goes very quickly," O'Neill said.

O'Neill said everyone made it out. At least one person was taken to the hospital to be checked out, but O'Neill said that person has since been released and is OK. No firefighters were injured, but crews had to evacuate because parts of the building were falling. 

Corbett said the fire could have been contained earlier if the building code required sprinklers in void areas. Those are places in a building that can't be seen, but where fire can travel fast.

The 310 @ Nulu apartment building is called a three over one, the first level is built from concrete and the upper floors are built with wood. This type of residential building is common in Louisville and around the country.

Corbett said the materials are inexpensive, compared to a steel and concrete building.

"If you are going to insist on using wood the way they are, they have to have full sprinkler protection in them, it is as simple as that," Corbett said.

Corbett said the sprinkler system pipes in buildings like 310 @ Nulu are in the ceiling. He said adding one more sprinkler head in the voids of the buildings would go a long way.

"What the issue is, it is about freeze protection and there are certain things you have to do and again it costs money to do some of these things," Corbett said.

The 310 @ NuLu complex is made up of several buildings. Officials said 37 units were occupied in the building that caught fire. The massive amount of water being sprayed on the building caused debris and siding to fall off. O'Neill said there is concern of further collapse.

A building nearby was also evacuated out of precaution. The Red Cross said late Monday afternoon more than 60 people total had been displaced between the apartment complex and a nearby Metro Housing unit.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg posted on X Monday night that all 64 individuals displaced from the fire are accounted for and safe. He said Kentucky Red Cross is helping residents process claims, access hotel rooms and receive support. 

Related Stories:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.