24 apartments damaged or destroyed in 3 alarm River Ridge fire

RIVER RIDGE, La. (WGNO) — Jefferson Parish firefighters responded to a large apartment fire Friday night in River Ridge. They estimate 24 units were destroyed. The fire started around 6 p.m. and went to three alarms.

The apartment building is in the 500 block of Richard Avenue. Neighbors told WGNO News that they were unaware that anything was wrong until they heard the fire trucks arriving.

“And then my dad went outside and he was like, ‘Guys we gotta go, the building is on fire.’ And I was like what? And we were standing around at first, and the fire fighters, they were like, ‘Y’all gotta move back,'” resident Brianna Williams told WGNO News. “Then things really got insane.”

Firefighters say the fire may have been started by a window unit air conditioner in one of the apartments at the back of the building.

One resident also said it was a window unit. Devin Bond told WGNO News that his apartment is near the one where the fire started.

“The whole air conditioner was on fire. A piece fell off there and just spread to the ceiling, and the whole roof is gone now,” Bond said.

The Red Cross is assisting the residents. None were hurt, but one firefighter was treated at the scene for an injury.

Latest Posts