On July 15, 2017 a severe storm front moved across the coastal region of southeast Virginia resulting in multiple lightning strikes and fire alarms across the City of Chesapeake. At 4:35am, Fire and Police units were dispatched to a report of a fire at Chesapeake Crossing, a multi-unit, three-story, residential apartment community for senior citizens. Upon arrival, the first engine company reported two buildings with heavy flames extending through the roof, with a third building already involved from the spread of the fire. The fire was quickly elevated to a four-alarm dispatch, bringing in additional companies, including mutual aid resources from surrounding cities.
The structure was a multi-story, lightweight construction apartment complex; all residents were senior citizens, many with mobility challenges; and the complex was protected only by a 13R sprinkler system, which was quickly disabled by the fire early in the event. There were 3 Fatalities and 159 residents were displaced due to the fire.
This presentation will review the management of the Fire and EMS response, the fire code compliance and challenges, and the emergency management perspective in dealing with sheltering and housing over 160 senior residents. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a multi-unit, senior residential apartment building fire. Effective Incident Command Functions coupled with fire code compliance and a comprehensive plan for emergency sheltering were key lessons learned.