WAVE 3 - Louisville, KYCareless smoking caused condo fire

Careless smoking caused condo fire

By Elizabeth Donatelli

LOUISVILLE (WAVE) -- A three-alarm fire in a high-rise building kept 100 firefighters busy Friday morning, but no injuries were reported. As WAVE 3's Elizabeth Donatelli reports, fire officials say careless smoking caused the fire.

The blaze broke out at Glenview Condominiums at 5100 U.S. Hwy. 42 around 12:26 a.m., and was brought under control in about an hour.

Residents of the high-rise condo were awakened to sounds of popping glass and orange flames coming from their building. Jonathan Gambrell lives on the fifth floor and took time to videotape the fire from the inside.

Gambrell said the flames didn't get to his unit, but it was hit by smoke and water. He elected to stay inside, but others dashed outside.

At least nine companies responded from all over because of the dangerous variables. One firefighter says it's the largest response he's seen in his four years with the department -- probably because most of the building's residents are elderly.

Glenview's policy is to keep people inside their rooms during the fire, and messages broadcast over loudspeakers throughout the building advised many residents to put towels under the doors and wait on their balconies.

Roy Kempf, Glenview's General Manager, said the building's sound structure probably preventing the flames from spreading.

"The way this building is built is it's solid and you have four walls that are all concrete.   Every fire that we've had here, other than this one, which I haven't seen yet, has basically put themselves out because of lack of oxygen."

Despite the potential severity of the fire, authorities say only one unit of the 167-unit complex was heavily damaged. That unit, on the ninth floor, will have to be completely rebuilt.

Investigators say the fire was caused by an unattended cigarette.

Online Reporter: Elizabeth Donatelli

Online Producer: Michael Dever