FLORENCE, Ky. — About 50 people were displaced Thursday after an early-morning fire damaged an extended-stay motel in Florence, forcing families from their rooms as flames spread into difficult-to-reach areas of the building.
No one was injured in the fire, according to Florence fire officials. By the afternoon, investigators were working to determine what caused the fire while the Red Cross and local agencies worked to find places for displaced residents to stay.
The fire was reported around 4:45 a.m. at the HomeTowne Studios on Commerce Drive. Florence police officers arrived first, confirmed the fire and began evacuating people from the building. Florence Fire Chief Rodney Wren said crews could see flames as they approached the property.
WATCH: About 50 displaced after fire at Florence extended stay
For a woman who identified herself only by her first name, Amanda, the evacuation began when her husband returned home from work and noticed the flames.
Amanda said he went to the office to alert others and make sure 911 was called before calling her. Once he knew she was safe, she said, he began knocking on neighbors' doors.
"Everything really happened so quick," Amanda said. "But as soon as he knew I was okay, he started banging on the doors, all the neighbors up top, and it was just — it happened so quickly."
Amanda said she was grateful people were able to make it outside safely. She and her husband had recently relocated from North Carolina after he got a new job.
"It is kind of shaking that something just happened, but you know, thanks be unto God, we're we're here," she said. "We're going to trust God's plan and keep it going."
Florence firefighters were joined by the Elsmere Fire District during the response. Wren said essentially all available Florence fire apparatus were sent to the scene.
Matt Pleiman, Florence Fire Department's battalion chief of training, said the location of the fire presented challenges. The fire had extended into areas around the ceiling and roof, where multiple void spaces made it difficult for firefighters to reach.
"It was challenging, I think because of where the fire was, as well as there's multiple roofs, multiple void spaces, which were a little challenging for us to get to," Pleiman said.
Amanda said she was grateful people were able to make it outside safely. She and her husband had recently relocated from North Carolina after he got a new job.
"It is kind of shaking that something like this happened, but you know, thanks be unto God, we're here," she said. "We're going to trust God's plan and keep it going."
The Elsmere Fire District assisted during the response. Wren said essentially all available Florence fire apparatuses were sent to the scene.
Matt Pleiman, Florence Fire Department's battalion chief of training, said where the fire burned presented challenges. Flames had extended into areas around the ceiling and roof, where multiple void spaces made it difficult for firefighters to reach.
However, fire-separation drywall helped limit how far the flames could travel through the attic, Pleiman said. Firefighters also opened ceilings in adjacent rooms as they worked to prevent the fire from spreading farther through the structure.
The initial knockdown happened relatively quickly, but completely extinguishing the fire took longer because crews had to reach areas where flames could remain hidden.
Wren said the amount of smoke and fire initially raised concerns that the flames could continue along the roofline. Crews ultimately contained much of the damage to the front end of the building near the office space.
By Thursday afternoon, the flames were gone and investigators were working to determine exactly how the fire started. Pleiman said investigators had an idea of where it originated but had not yet determined the cause.
For the residents who remained gathered outside, however, the focus had shifted from the fire to what would happen next.
Barb Glacken said she has lived at the extended stay hotel for two years, with five members of her family staying in two rooms.
"The flames were shooting out of the top of the building, and smoke was going everywhere," Glacken said. "They got everybody out. Everybody is safe. That's a good thing."
Although Glacken said her family's rooms were not directly damaged, they could not remain at the hotel without power and water.
She worried other displaced residents could have an even harder time finding somewhere to go, particularly families with children or pets.
"We're all scared," Glacken said. "We don't know what's going to happen next. We don't know if they're going to have some place to live, if they're going to be able to all go together. I mean, it's just right now, it's just a great unknown."
Katie James, a social worker with the City of Florence, said emergency medications were retrieved with help from firefighters. The city, Boone County Sheriff's Office and Red Cross are working to determine where residents can stay.
For some of those displaced, James said, the extended-stay motel was not simply temporary lodging.
"It is home for some people, and so they are experiencing loss right now," James said. "And so that's where we come in to provide that support and help meet any need that they may have."
City workers provided food, water and blankets throughout the day. Glacken thanked Florence police, firefighters and city workers for helping residents as they waited.
Still, she said her biggest concern was what would happen once everyone left the parking lot.
"I just really hope that all these people get placed somewhere where they can be with their family and not be suffering," Glacken said.
