Massive Fairfield apartment complex fire displaced 18 residents, destroyed 11 units

More than 20 hours after an apartment fire destroyed 11 units and displaced 18 residents, Fairfield firefighters remained on the scene today, a company boarded windows and a backhoe knocked down the burned structures.

MORE: Chief: Massive fire at Fairfield complex likely caused by cooking, under control

The fire was reported Friday afternoon in the 80 block of Brittany Lane at the Villages of Wildwood and was caused by a resident who left food cooking on her stove, said Fairfield Fire Chief Don Bennett.

He said the residents told investigators when she returned from the store, the apartment was filled with flames and smoke. The chief said that indicates she was gone for “a period of time.”

He called it a “24-hour fire detail” and said firefighters remained on “fire watch” in case there were hot spots. There was smoke coming from at least one unit, and smoke was in the air this morning.

Bennett said once the fire reached the ceiling of the apartment, it quickly spread horizontally to neighboring units. He said firefighters discovered plywood in the roof indicating the arched roofs were once flat.

There were 47 firefighters on the scene after the fire was reported at 2:47 p.m. Besides Fairfield, units from Fairfield Twp., Hamilton, Liberty Twp., West Chester, Springdale, Forest Park, Colerain Twp., and Ross responded to the three-alarm fire.

No residents or firefighters were injured, Bennett reported. He said one male resident was transported to a local hospital about an hour after the fire due to shortness of breath.

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