Fire investigators were at the charred remains of the Foxboro Apartments at 154th and Adams Streets Saturday in an effort to discover what caused the blaze.
A two-alarm fire that sparked about 9:45 p.m. Friday caused heavy damage to the three-story building and displaced 38 residents.
Firefighters could see smoke and flames leaping from the apartment building when they arrived, said Assistant Fire Marshal James Gentile.
Damage from the fire forced fire crews to evacuate twice for their own safety. Firefighters pulled back when flames chewed through the attic, which created the danger of a roof collapse, said Capt. Tim McCaw, spokesman for the Omaha Fire Department.
Once the fire was knocked down, crews noticed significant damage to floor supports and again they retreated to safety.
He said firefighters also were hampered by icy conditions and freezing equipment in the frigid cold.
Omaha firefighters brought the blaze under control one hour after it was reported.
McCaw said 24 apartments sustained smoke or water damage. No injuries were reported.
Red Cross volunteers took some displaced residents to another building in the Foxboro complex and assisted the affected families as needed with clothing, food and shelter.
The Foxboro Apartments are across the street from Andersen Middle School. Access to the apartment complex was restricted by closed roads Saturday morning.
Contact the writer: 402-444-3106, emerson.clarridge@owh.com
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