Standing across the street from his apartment, Joshua Hughes watched firefighters battle the blaze at the Oxford Park Apartments Monday.
“I count my blessings, thank God that I have my life,” said Hughes, who lived in apartment B33. “I could have been there.”
Around 10:48 a.m. Monday, emergency personnel received a 9-1-1 call that apartment complex C was on fire. The first emergency unit responded at 10:51 a.m.
“Apartment complex C was totally engulfed, apartment complex B had had its roof burnt through,” said Keith Stammer, public information officer with the Joplin Fire Department. “They are still working on it right now (as of 1:30 p.m. Monday), but they have got the fire stopped there. Complex A, there is no fire and no damage.”
The American Red Cross quickly set up a station to take roll of displaced residents and find them temporary shelter.
The American Red Cross reported that 29 units had been destroyed, and Red Cross volunteers opened claims for 16 of the displaced residents.
A shelter was established at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on 26th Street in Joplin for Monday and tonight. The Independent Living Center, at 2639 E. 34th St. in Joplin, has provided space for Red Cross volunteers to work. Today and Wednesday, Red Cross volunteers will meet with victims of the fire to process casework.
Hughes, who has lived at the apartment for about a year, lost everything in the fire.
“They are material things. The good Lord blessed me. I will get it back,” he said. “I am glad that me and my wife are safe.”
As of Monday afternoon, the origin of the fire was undetermined by fire officials.
“The fire investigation is ongoing,” Stammer said. “We don’t know if it was inside, outside, or what the deal was at all.”
