Update: Apartment Fire in Downtown Murphy

Apartment fire at 95 Valley River Avenue in downtown Murphy. This photo was shared on WKRK's Facebook page by Lorenda Stanley Dockery.

The following press release has been issued by Chief Al Lovingood of the Murphy Fire Department.

Apartment Fire  - 95 Valley River Avenue

Murphy Fire assisted by Ranger and Peachtree Fire Departments responded to an apartment fire at 95 Valley River Avenue Friday afternoon at 4:10 pm.  

Upon arrival of first units at 4:16 found an approximately 9,000 square foot multi-story apartment complex with dark turbulent smoke showing from the attic.  

Initial reports upon arrival indicated that all occupants were out of the structure.  During size-up by the incident commander, occupants were continuing to exit the building.  Upon completing an initial search for occupants, suppression efforts were initiated.  Personnel entered the building and progressed to the attic encountering high heat and zero visibility.  Fire attack was initiated controlling the main body of the fire.  Upon control of the fire, salvage and overhaul operations were initiated.  Fire was extinguished at 4:58 pm.  

No injuries were reported.  One patient was evaluated by Cherokee County EMS, but was not transported.  

Many agencies assisted in addition to Ranger and Peachtree Fire, these include: Cherokee County EMS, Cherokee County Rescue Squad, Murphy Police, Murphy Power, Murphy Public Works, Cherokee County Schools, Red Cross and the Hulbert-Johnson Homeless Shelter.  

22 people were identified to occupy this complex of which 11 were provided temporary shelter by Red Cross and Hulbert-Johnson Homeless Shelter.  

This incident had high potential for injuries or loss of life in addition to involved property loss and exposure damage.  We were fortunate this incident was successful mitigated which I attribute to firefighters and other agency personnel who assisted.  

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  

-Al Lovingood

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