LONGVIEW/GREGG COUNTY (KYTX) - The Longview Fire Department received a call a little around 12 this afternoon after a neighbor called saying they saw flames coming out of the roof of an apartment building. The Longview fire chief says contractors had been making repairs on the roof when a blow torch accidentally came into contact with wood. Firefighters got there within moments, but 80 percent of the roof was already in flames.
" I called 911 and started beating on doors trying to evacuate everybody."
After seeing the flames, it was the only thing Dennis Kimbrough said he could do to help.
"They were shocked the roof was on fire."
But not for long, the fire department showed up in five minutes and went to work...
"Broke out all their equipment and started putting the fire out."
"This is our first time having something like this ever happen, so it's a big shock to everybody."
Andrea Smith lives next to the building that caught on fire.
She now realizes that in the blink of an eye, you can lose it all.
"It's unusual to see an apartment fire 100 feet from where we live."
Of course a fire of this magnitude is very unfortunate, especially when 12 people have lost their homes.
Regency Park's management and staff say that they are working hard to make sure their residence have a place to stay.
"What we are doing right now is finding them a hotel so they can at least have somewhere to stay at least for the next week."
Apartment manager Shana Jones says she's worked at Regency Park for 8 years and the people here are more than just residents who pay rent.
"These people are like my family and it hurt me just to see what they're going to be going through."
Residents say although they may have lost a few valuable items, things could've been worse...
"Everybody seems to be safe."
Apartment management and staff say they have started working to get new units ready to place the residents who lost their homes.
