A fire of unknown cause and origin broke out early yesterday morning at an apartment complex near the Corner, displacing at least 22 occupants, authorities said.
Residents from nine apartments, including many sisters of Delta Zeta Sorority, were evacuated shortly after 12:30 a.m. None were injured in the blaze.
The fire occurred at Sadler Court Apartments, a three-story complex at 231 14th Street operated by Management Services Corporation. At least six fire units responded to the scene, and crews worked for over an hour to extinguish the flames, said Detective Mark Fields, a fire investigator with Charlottesville Police.
One firefighter suffered an injury resulting from contact with the damaged building structure, Fields said.
"As they entered the apartment with the most damage, part of the floor gave way," he said. "He suffered minor bruising, but nothing major."
As a result of the firefighters' efforts, glass littered the ground around the complex, which was probably built in the late 1960s, MSC Regional Property Manager Alice Fletcher said.
According to Fields, one apartment on the third floor was heavily damaged by the fire, and at least two others received smoke and water damage.
"We can allow them limited access to only the first and second floors," Fletcher said.
This is the latest in a number of house fires which have displaced students living off-Grounds. A Monroe Lane residence that caught fire in February has since been boarded up.
"There have been an above-average number of fires since January," Fields said.
Most of the incidents were later found to have been caused accidentally, he added.
Until alternate arrangements for the displaced occupants can be made, Fletcher said the agency will pay to house them at the Red Roof Inn on West Main Street. Residents said the company only offered to cover lodging costs over the weekend, with the Red Cross potentially providing an additional night's stay before they would be responsible for finding their own accommodations. The Red Cross sent two volunteer caseworkers to the site, spokesperson Lonnie Kirby said.
The decision to provide alternative accommodations or alter the occupants' rental contract would be at the discretion of the property manager, MSC marketing representative Andrea Heide said.
"A lot depends on the situation," she said. "We don't have a set policy."
Heide added that the company did not have any vacant properties available for the displaced residents to move into.
Though no damage assessment figures were available, Fletcher said an insurance investigator would be performing a cost estimate in the upcoming days.
Fletcher also said the company would work to secure the building with locks and deadbolts to prevent possible theft from the property.
Residents, families and friends worked to carry possessions out of the building yesterday in white trash bags to their cars.
University alumnus John Hammer said he and his wife, Ellen, drove from Richmond yesterday morning to assist their daughter Mary, a second-year College student. Hammer said she occupied an apartment in the back of the building, which was damaged by smoke and water.
"At this point there's only four more weeks left in the semester," he said. "It might just be easier for her to stay at the hotel."
Despite damage to the complex, Fletcher said repairs should be completed in time for tenants to move in for the fall semester.
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