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Fire destroys building at Thomasbrook Apartments in Lincoln

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BY LISA MUNGER / Lincoln Journal Star

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 08:54:46 pm CDT



Amy Willadsen was honored recently for saving a man from a car fire. On Saturday morning, she was the one who escaped a fire.

Willadsen, a Lancaster County Sheriff's deputy, was among dozens of people who got out safely when their building at Thomasbrook Apartments burned.

Story Photo
Firefighters battle a blaze at Thomasbrook Apartments, 59th and VanDorn streets, early Saturday morning. TED KIRK/Lincoln Journal Star

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"When I saw the flames I knew we had to get out right away," she said.

Willadsen and her fiance had renter's insurance, but the dress she had planned to wear at their Aug. 8 wedding was lost in the blaze.

Their apartment was on the first floor of the three-story, 24-unit building in the complex at 59th and Van Dorn streets that caught fire Saturday morning. All occupants were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.

By Saturday afternoon, investigators determined the fire started when a resident discarded a cigarette in a plastic coffee container on a third-floor balcony. A porch glider started to burn, and the fire traveled up the side of the balcony to the eaves of the building. From there, the blaze moved into the attic and quickly traveled through the open space to the roof, said Damon Robbins, a fire investigator with the city.

He said the building was a total loss and estimated damage at $1.25 million to $2 million, with an additional $500,000 for the building's contents.

A resident called 911 and activated a fire alarm at 6:17 a.m. after hearing a smoke detector.

"When we arrived, there were flames about 20 feet into the air," firefighter Adam Schrunk said.

Eleven Lincoln Fire & Rescue units, including engines, trucks, and aerial trucks, responded to the blaze. Chief Niles Ford said the fire was under control by 8:14 a.m.

"We plan to keep crews on-site until at least 7 tonight,” Robbins said Saturday afternoon. “There is a lot of debris, water on the floor, threat of ceiling collapse. It's dangerous right now. It's a hard-hat zone.”

Aerial ladder units continued to saturate the building into the afternoon to make sure all hot spots were extinguished.

"There can be hidden fires and hot spots anywhere," Ford said.

Robbins said residents won't be allowed back into their homes  until engineers, usually hired by the landlord's insurance company, assess structural safety.

"This building has been red-tagged," Robbins said. "That means it’s untenable, really poor conditions.”

Thomasbrook, built in 1973, has 264 apartments on land just west of the Holmes Lake dam.

The fire burned through walls and attic space common to the entire building, Ford said. It had firewalls designed to contain fire long enough for people to get out, he said.

The complex does not have a sprinkler system, and, because of its age, isn’t required to. Beginning this year, Robbins said, all new apartment buildings in Lincoln must be equipped with sprinklers.

Each apartment at the complex has smoke detectors, as do the hallways, but one does not trigger the other, Robbins said.

Thomasbrook leasing agent Amber Lardy said complex employees check smoke detectors before people move in and require them to sign a waiver stating further maintenance is their responsibility.

"Smoke detectors and fire alarms, in common areas, were inspected in this building two months ago," she said.

Willadsen’s apartment was on the east side of the building, beneath the spot where the fire started.

Firefighters went back in after the main fire was out to retrieve her gun and ammunition. They also were able to find her fiance’s wedding ring.

“Some people didn’t have renter’s insurance,” said Willadsen, who in October 2007 helped to pull a semiconscious person from a burning vehicle. “They are really hurting. There are a lot of people who could really use help right now. The Red Cross is doing what they can to help them.”

The Red Cross was on the scene by 8:20 a.m. to talk with families, help people find housing and provide food, water and counseling for those who wanted it.

Bob Kelley, director of development and communications for the Cornhusker Regional Chapter, said firefighters worked hard to save what they could.

"The fire department has been wonderful," he said. "They put down over 100 tarps, covering furniture to preserve what they could from water damage."

Firefighters also retrieved pets, car keys, computers and medications for residents.

All but one of the one- and two-bedroom units in the building were occupied, Lardy said, but several residents were out of town at the time of the fire. She said she had rented open Thomasbrook apartments to about half the affected residents by Saturday afternoon.

Alicia Harms, who moved into her third-floor apartment about a month ago, stood outside Saturday morning and watched firefighters saturate the building with water.

"When I woke up, I couldn't see my hand in front of my face," she said, her eyes brimming with tears. "I started screaming for help, and then I heard firefighters banging at my door.

"I grabbed my laptop and my purse and ran. I lost everything. I didn't have the chance to get renter's insurance."

Kelley said some help for those without insurance is available through the Red Cross.

"People don't know how inexpensive renter's insurance is," he said. "We do have a brochure we give them with some financial possibilities." 

Harms, 19, wasn't alone. Cody Smith said taking out insurance didn’t occur to him.

Like Harms, he woke to the sound of firefighters banging at the door. He and his roommate, Mark Howell, 25, ran out to the lawn and looked back to see firefighters hack their way through the roof with axes.

"We woke up, smelled the smoke and thought, ‘We'd better get the hell out of here,’" said Smith, 25. "I'm just glad they sent so many firetrucks."

Robbins said something can be learned from every fire. In this case, a cigarette tossed into a plastic container was the culprit. The fire that destroyed a three-story, 24-unit building at Lionsgate Apartments near 51st and Vine streets in August 2005 started after a cigarette was tossed into a plastic flower pot.

"People that smoke cigarettes should throw them away in a non-combustible container, like a metal can with a lid."

Reach Lisa Munger at 473-7107 or lmunger@journalstar.com.


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ten to one odds wrote on July 12, 2008 8:36 am:
" How soon before the first "arm chair firefighter" poster questions the need for 24 vehicles?

Glad no one was hurt. I sure hope a lot of the renters invested in renters insurance. It's only a few bucks a month. "

 Bud wrote on July 12, 2008 8:41 am:
" If i'm in a fire and I don't see it or smell it, I'm grabbing all the stuff I can get and ain't no fire fighter telln' me what to do! "

 Great Job wrote on July 12, 2008 8:46 am:
" Great job LFR for saving the lives of the people that live in the building.

Let the moaning begin on having "24 vehicles" there. I've seen this apartment building and it's huge. I'm sure that they had to go door to door and get people out. That should take a lot of people (read: work!)

Thank you for the job that you do. "

 firefighter wrote on July 12, 2008 9:38 am:
" When the fire alarms are sounding please don't ignore them. Get OUT! Not only can it save your life but also the lives of the firefighters that are risking there own to save yours. "

 Andrea wrote on July 12, 2008 10:35 am:
" IT says the fire dept. had 11 units there, NOT 24. It was a 24-complex apt. unit. READ before you start complaining!!!! There is ALWAYS going to be someone complaining about something. Well Done To Our Lincoln Firefighters!!!! "

 LAR wrote on July 12, 2008 11:01 am:
" The representatives on-scene from the American Red Cross are all volunteer members. They deserve thanks not only for helping the victims of the fire but also for aiding the firefighters. These volunteers are members of our community and are wonderful examples of people helping people in times of need. Nice work Red Cross Disaster Action Team! "

 OBSERVANT READER wrote on July 12, 2008 11:02 am:
" Where does this article say that there was "24 vechicles" on site. This was a 24 unit apartment complex...there was "11 units from LFD" on site. Kudos to LFD for no causualties nor injuries involved in this catastrophic situation. "

 You do wrote on July 12, 2008 11:06 am:
" That Bud. Grab everything you want and we will be attending your funeral the next day. Nothing is worth your life. "

 John wrote on July 12, 2008 11:14 am:
" Bud, great idea! While you're busy trying to get your leather recliner and big screen TV out the door, the firefighters there to save lives and property have to wait for you to get out of their way. In the meantime the rest of you and your neighbors home and belongings go up in flames. If only you had listened and just been out of the way from the beginning all your stuff would have been saved. You would be amazed at how fast a fire can engulf a building. I hope you don't live by me. "

 Neighbor wrote on July 12, 2008 11:40 am:
" We live a block away in the houses off 58th St and were awake at 6:30am with the multitude of ambulances and fire trucks. We're very glad nobody was hurt. Donations are being accepted at the Thomasbrook clubhouse, and I'm sure would be greatly appreciated. Also, having moved back to Nebraska from a large east coast city, the size of the response from LFR is amazing. Had this happened in our previous city, people would have probably perished due to lack of resources and a small response. It's better to have too much help than not enough at all. It obviously makes a big difference, so be grateful that the headline reads "Fire destroys part of an apartment complex", and not "17 people die when fire destroys entire complex". "

 My opinion wrote on July 12, 2008 11:44 am:
" Bud.............stuff is just stuff and can be replaced. I would hope you would be smart enough not to put firefighters and other people's lives in danger. "

 Neighbor wrote on July 12, 2008 11:59 am:
" Our Lincoln Firefighters are among the very best!! Who cares how many rigs it takes to save lives and do the job! "Bud" - you need an attitude adjustment BIG TIME! I'm sure the residents of that apartment building are thankful for the firefighters saving their lives today!
Thank You for your great service! "

 melinda Root wrote on July 12, 2008 1:32 pm:
" I just wanted to let the family know that my thought and pryer are with in this time of need. "

 Churton wrote on July 12, 2008 1:47 pm:
" Holy Smoke!
Now that was quite a fire...great job LFR...that could have been much worse if it would have spread to the surrounding buildings! "

 firemedic wrote on July 12, 2008 2:03 pm:
" To the person who states they aint listening to any firefighter if they dont see or smell smoke, If they are pounding at your door and telling you to get out and there aint time, you best listen to them as they are telling you this for a reason, as in this case this was a significant fire and out of control, If you are one of those people who dont feel they need to listen then the next thing that could be happening is people listening to your ulogy, thats sad that you have to think this way. "

 Hose Jockey wrote on July 12, 2008 2:11 pm:
" Bud your not all that smart. "ain't no fire fighter going to tell me what to do" Ok so this is how it works Bud you can leave willingly = That means you walk out on your own power. Or you leave by force = That means I pick you up kicking and screaming like a baby and force you out the building you have them two chooses. When it comes to your, others, and my life I have no time to mess around while your grabbing stuff. Your belongings are replace able your life is not. Be a smart person dont fight with fire fighters OK. "

 CS wrote on July 12, 2008 2:44 pm:
" Except that there are usually police on hand, and while obstructing a fire fighter may not be against the law, obstructing the police officer that he goes to get to remove you is. "aint no firefighter gonna tell me what to do" is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. "

 Laurie wrote on July 12, 2008 3:05 pm:
" Per the story, this was a 24 UNIT apartment complex....there were NOT 24 fire vehicles on the scene. I think it's important to keep the facts straight especially when LFD did a wonderful job evacuating people with no lives lost! "

 photos or your life wrote on July 12, 2008 3:21 pm:
" Sorry to say it Bud, but you don't realize that carbon monoxide is colorless, tasteless and has no odor. Your short sighted logic that finds many people at risk for smoke inhalation and loss of life which in turn puts firefighters lives in danger because you are "grabbing all the stuff I can get". Please feel free to address those injured or killed trying to help you because "ain't no fire fighter telln' me what to do!" Use a fire proof box/safe for your photos, small irreplaceable effects, and valuable documents. Make back up copies of photos and financial records and place them with high valued itemsput in safe deposit box. Outsource digital family photos, and digital music in external hard drives, CDs or DVDs to other family members. Be proactive to securing items of value in multiple locations before a fire or other disaster hits do not be reactive and wait for the emergency to occur and then try to grab all the stuff you can while running out the door. Ten to one odds are that most didn't have renters insurance. "

 Ramone wrote on July 12, 2008 4:07 pm:
" Hey Bud, so you are basically saying your possessions are more important that your safety as well as the safety of the firefighter who is there to get you out? That's pretty sad... "

 Christine S. wrote on July 12, 2008 4:20 pm:
" My heart goes out to all of those who lost everything, or nearly everything in their apartments. I personally know someone who lives there and my heart aches for him. Thank God no one was physically hurt from this, but I know the mental anguish will continue for sometime. God Bless. "

 DWII wrote on July 12, 2008 4:55 pm:
" Invest in renter's insurance Bud and you won't have to risk your life for stuff that can be replaced. "

 Resident wrote on July 12, 2008 5:23 pm:
" I was there and everybody was out before LFR arrived, so lets not give credit where its not due. They did put water on it and its still a total loss so why not let it burn and save on the demo. "

 Anya wrote on July 12, 2008 6:55 pm:
" You don't want to give credit where credit is due???????? Are you INSANE? How about the firefighters don't show up next time and the whole complex, plus the nursing home nearby and the neighbourhood could have burned to the ground? "

 Thank You wrote on July 12, 2008 7:24 pm:
" Thank you to Lincoln Firefighters! Great job today. Hope you're available should I ever need assistance. "

 Fire god wrote on July 12, 2008 7:33 pm:
" How much does insurance pay you for photographs that can never be replaced, or for the watch that my great grandfather brought to America from Germany during the war with his family? Some things cannot be replaced.

How many people have to post that there were 11 vehicles on scene not 24.

Interfering with a firefighter during the course of their duty is a misdemeanor in the City of Lincoln.

Finally, I get so sick and tired of the fire department being put on a high pedestal for doing their jobs. How about kudos to the Red Cross, and to the police department, do not forget the water department who had to be called for increased water pressure. "

 missy wrote on July 12, 2008 8:44 pm:
" No! They were not all out by the time the firefighters got there at 6:20 my daughter lived on the 3rd floor across the hall from the apartment that caused the fire and did not make it out until 6:40 her smoke alarm did not go off and her apartment was filled with black smoke.No one helped her until she started to scream, she lost everything but she is still alive ,thank "

 Mark wrote on July 12, 2008 9:25 pm:
" GREAT JOB to EVERYONE involved! And a special Thanks for you LFR, Lincoln is proud of you and the work you do don't ever think for a moment we're not. "

 valerieI wrote on July 12, 2008 9:27 pm:
" I don't know why smokers get away with this all the time! They should do jail time for this.smokers are disgusting! "

 Reader wrote on July 12, 2008 9:55 pm:
" I appreciate the firefighters and their families. The sacrafices and expertise that is given cannot be replaced by anyone. They do not lead "normal" lives, miss out on their families events time and again. There is always the knowledge that responding to a fire is Always a risk.

Thankfully, no one was injured. That is cause to celebrate in the midst of a devastating event.

Kudos to all who responded to assist. "

 Warder wrote on July 12, 2008 10:54 pm:
" Another apartment fire caused by cigarettes. Grills were banned from apartments because of the fires they started so why not cigarettes as well? At least banning cigarettes would make more sense than grills... "

 user wrote on July 12, 2008 11:29 pm:
" Valeriel...guess what? Not all fires are started by careless smokers. Candles are left burning, the stove/oven is left on, a curious child finds a book of matches, etc. should all of these people go to jail also? Not all smokers are careless or disrepecful of other nonsmokers. You are placing blame when it was an unfortunate accident. Just like the accidental candle left burning or anything along those lines. Fires are started for many different reasons. You are singling out smokers as though they are the cause of every fire. That just simply not true. "

 Now Perhaps wrote on July 12, 2008 11:31 pm:
" We can have smoke free buildings "

 Better safe than sorry wrote on July 13, 2008 5:06 am:
" Good job LFD! The complainers sound like the guys I heard in the background a few years ago as I talked to a 911 operator about a smoke detector going off in a neighbor's apartment. It was also about 6 a.m., and the voices in the background were making degrading comments about my intelligence -- they wondered if I was too dumb to know the difference between an alarm clock and a smoke detector. Sure enough, when the Lincoln Fire Department arrived, a smoldering pizza box that my drunken neighbor had left in her 300-degree oven at 2 a.m. had filled her apareemnt with smoke. Firefighters risk their lives every day to keep us safe. "

 mike wrote on July 13, 2008 7:28 am:
" renters ins very cheap,if the lfd is beating on your door theres a reson,and you need to move quick "

 LRguy wrote on July 13, 2008 7:49 am:
" I'm surprised that no one is hurt, the fire moved very quickly. It's terrible that they lost everything. Hopefully everyone will make it through the tough times alright. "

 jlp wrote on July 13, 2008 10:06 am:
" well look at that a smoker caused this. how many times do we have to hear about a fire started by a smoker. A porch, a garage, a dumpster, or whatever caused by poorly disposed of smoking materials. When will smokers start acting responsible. I am sick and tired of driving behind someone who throws their light butt out of their car at night and seeing embers bouncing down the street. Come smokers clean it up. "

 TJ wrote on July 13, 2008 10:11 am:
" This has nothing to do with the LFD, they did a great job!! However there is an issue with this fire that hasn't been mentioned. THERE WAS A WATER PRESSURE ISSUE AT THE HYDRANTS. LFD even called public works during the fire for help. I wish someone would look into this!!!! "

 Its not just a hose on water wrote on July 13, 2008 10:15 am:
" Firefighters don't just show up and hook up a hose and spray. There is a LOT more to it than that. Do you understand how a fire can hide or how it speards? How to tell if fire is on the otherside of a door? Can you pressurise a hose so you don't kill your guy on the other end? How you can have half a structure looking almost untouched, yet have the roof come down on you?? Can you get the gear on in under 90 seconds? Have any clue what the gear weighs? Did you work 24 hours, then get to work 3 or 4 more instead of going to your kids soccor game? If you can answer yes to all of these, THEN you might have a clue as to what a firefighter does.
Lincoln has well trained firefighters on call 24/7. Yes they do get a paycheck. Remember when you aren't inside the city, they are NOT getting paid. They give up their weekends to train, they pull themselves out of bed at 2:00 am, leave Christmas dinner, all without pay.
Bud--That 2 minutes you argue with the firefighter, can cost someone else their life. It might mean the difference between a child having a normal life or permanent brain damage. It could be the diffence between my child getting your child out. (Don't worry about the kid, mine will toss you out of the way first. If you're lucky it will be out of the fire rather than in) "

 jerry wrote on July 13, 2008 12:25 pm:
" when will the smokers that cause all this damage and risk of others lives have to start paying for the damage that they cause by negligently disposing of their cigarettes or other smoking materials? to me when you are negligent in the way you dispose of tour smoking materials whether it be out the car window,in a plastic bucket or what ever else and you cause fire or harm or damage it should carry a criminal charge, which should not be too hard to prove in court bacause of the negligence. and acts like this certainly doesn't give the smokers much of an arguement as for why they should be allowed to smoke when ever and where ever they want. "

 BicycleMike wrote on July 13, 2008 2:16 pm:
" What's the big deal, it was an unfortunate accident, it was a fire. Everyone is making this out as some big monumental event... too many trucks, just enough trucks, firemen commenting on this or that. I guess I can understand the firemen commenting, this was about as much excitement that they see in a year. The firemen did a good job, nobody was hurt, end of story. I've lived in cities where this fire would have been a blip on the radar, get over it. "

 Dave Kunz wrote on July 13, 2008 2:32 pm:
" I got a wakeup call on a saturday morning from one of my two daughters that lived in Thomasbrook apts. She was crying, standing out in the rain, cold,in her pajamas, watching her home burn! They were one of the "fortunate" ones who have an apartment to go back to-even if it was near where the fire started. The smoke and water damage may have trashed most of their worldly possesions, but praise the Lord they are all right! I am outraged that another lousy cigarette caused this much pain to so many people! The person that started this fire should go to prison and not be allowed to smoke there either! I would like to express my many thanks to the Lincoln Fire Department and the Red Cross for their excellent work! Thanks so much! To the Lincon city councel and whoever else is in charge of water main and fire hydrant volume and pressure-Shame on you! It is pittiful that nursing homes and apartment buildings don't have the proper size water mains to sustain the big aerial ladder rigs needed to fight a fire of this magnitude! The fire dept. should not have had to run a line from Van Dorn St.- the fire hydrant right across the street should have been able to fight a fire in an apt building- this one was aparently only good for a single family dwelling fire. Someone in the city should have to answer for this fiasco! Smokers deserve no rights! Normal people have the right to breath clean air- free of cigarette smoke and the stench of your apartment building going up in smoke because of another careless, thoughtless, cigarette smoker! "

 CS wrote on July 13, 2008 2:50 pm:
" Why is everyone complaining about 'smokers' in a vague manner like we all got together to collude and do this? They found the source, and the tenant in question is in for a hard time, but unless you all carry 1.25-2 million dollars in insurance you have little cause to lament about what will happen to the person that caused it. Either they will pay, their insurance will pay, or nothing will happen. You can't take money from someone that doesn't have it. Your ire towards smokers is misplaced in this incident since they know who started it. "

 Relax wrote on July 13, 2008 4:18 pm:
" Every one involved in this accident should be comended for there good work. Sounds like Jerry could use a cigarette to calm down all that built up frustration. Bottom line it was an accident nothing more. "

 Imagine That wrote on July 13, 2008 4:40 pm:
" Face it Bud is a thoughtless fool.
And if I had to guess is a very material type person right Bud????
So to this person life has very little meaning especially when it is someone elses life.
To bad Bud is it also lonely where you live. "

 valerie wrote on July 13, 2008 5:21 pm:
" user, I didn't say every fire is caused by a smoker but there are too many that turn out to be from cigarettes! I still say it's disgusting that this many people had to lose their homes because of a careless loser smoker! It's not an accident, it's stupidity! "

 Skip wrote on July 13, 2008 9:16 pm:
" Go to google news and search "fire caused by cigarette and see all the stories" then search "fire caused by non smoker" "

 Yup wrote on July 14, 2008 7:30 am:
" According to the National Fire and Protection Agency, cooking equipment fires account for 38% of house fires, followed by heating equipment at 19%, electrical 6%, intentional 5%, candle 4% and then smoking 4%. Looks like you're going to have to find another way to whine about smoking than leading cause of house fires. Everyone got out OK, thanks to a great job of all agencies involved. "

 Scott wrote on July 14, 2008 7:38 am:
" Yep, you're right. It's completely ridiculous that we thank firefighters for their response to a FIRE. If we're not going to thank them for their job at a FIRE what do you suggest? "Yes, I'd like to thank all the people who were woken up by the sirens. They're gawking and gossiping was a huge help this morning." Please people. Although, when you think about it...I can't remember the last time 25 people thanked a cop for arrresting a drunk driver or catching a bank robber. Just an observation. Nice job LFR and thank you. "

 Jennifer wrote on July 14, 2008 10:34 am:
" I was a resident that had to be evacuated from my apartment on the 2nd floor. If it wasn't for the firemen saving my cat, and someone else's hamster, they would've died. Also the firemen were amazing getting us shelter when it started to rain on us while we were watching our homes burn down. I will always give them credit where it's due because they were so helpful. The Red Cross also deserves thanks because I never really knew how helpful they would be. We got food and clothes vouchers, they sat and talked with all of us, and when we were all in such shock we couldn't function, they were the ones to ask about things like renter's insurance and other things we could barely think about. Most of us who were in the building ran immediately when we heard the alarm in the hall, or when the firemen told us to. It is really hard to contain a bunch of scared, shocked, crying people but they did it better than I ever could "

 sfufan wrote on July 14, 2008 12:17 pm:
" i love lincoln and most of its people, but iswear it seems like alot of you are whining, self-righteous, finger-pointers.how about we be thankful for-1,nobody died. 2, we have an excellent fire department that does its job well. when you are all perfect then you can point out everybodys mistakes. "

 LFR did what wrote on July 15, 2008 10:52 am:
" Good job not getting it to "spread," though unlikely due to the distance between buildings there. At least LFR saved another basement....oh wait no basement apts there....oops.. "

 Donna wrote on July 15, 2008 1:47 pm:
" Thanks so much for all of your support. We are so Thankful that nobody was hurt. When we go over a lease we talk to the new Resident about renters insurance, we explain to them that our insurance only covers the property, not their personal items, it also states it in the lease. If the resident does not have insurance we give them an insurance pamphlet.
Thomasbrook is a great place to live. Our primary concern is our Residents. We are grateful for all the donations that people have brought over and everyones positive attitude. All we can do know is move forward.
Thank you all so much
Donna Mann-Tucker
Thomasbrook Property Manager "

 Megan wrote on July 15, 2008 3:38 pm:
" First of all to everyone who helped you're amazing. Fire fighters risk their lives everyday to save people and animals. I don't think people give you enough credit. Second of all Bud you need adjust your priorities stuff can be replaced people can't. It's stupid of you to put your life and the life of a fire fighter at risk for material things. If you're dead you're not going to need them anyway. Third my heart and prayers go out to the families that have been affected by this fire. Fourth to any smoker: be smart put your cigarette out the right way. This wouldn't have happened if she had put it out the right way. People have lost homes and memories because of it. I think if a fire starts because of a cigarette and they know who the person was that the person should be charged with arson because they weren’t thinking when putting it out. If you smoke be smart put the cigarette, cigar, whatever out right. "

 Jimbo wrote on July 16, 2008 5:02 pm:
" First of all, thank goodness nobody was injured or killed. Secondly, LFR, The American Red Cross and the entire staff of Thomasabrook Apts. did an outstanding job and continue to to so. Lastly, people posting on this comment board are missing the most important thing which is helping the families and individuals of this terrible accident. Let's not play the game that some news sources are playing. The 'what if' game. These folks need our help, not for us to incite anger. "

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