RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Repairs are underway at the MAA Chase Gayton Apartments after a Level 24 fire destroyed 24 units on Friday.
One building burned down completely, another next door suffered heat damage.
Chase Gayton resident Jason Williams said he noticed the fire breaking out Friday afternoon while walking his dog.
“I looked over and there was something black on the floor that was kind of burning, and when I looked back up there was kind of a pop and then flames just shot out of the side,” Williams said. “And by the time I got back here to get the dog back in, it was already — it had already engulfed the upper floor.”
The American Red Cross of Virginia said it was assisting more than 60 people who were left homeless by the fire, including families with young children.
Everyone received a customer care card.
“It contains resources that they can use for a variety of reasons,” said Jonathan McNamara, communications director for the Virginia Red Cross. “To replace items that may have been lost, to get food and other things that you need if you’ve lost everything in a fire, but also to help people who need temporary shelter.”
He said his team also offers “psychological first aid counseling” and “spiritual care services” to all those affected.
“We know that events like this can be incredibly traumatic and cause a lot of fear and anxiety. We want to do everything we can to alleviate that,” McNamara said.
Supporting the Red Cross also includes processing insurance claims.
“Unfortunately, what we see in most of the fires we respond to at the Red Cross is that most people don’t have home insurance,” McNamara said. “And the difference between someone who does and someone who doesn’t is like night and day in terms of the options available to them.”
Some Chase Gayton residents told 12 On Your Side that they have not received any communications or updates about the fire from the apartment complex.
And Henrico Fire Department officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“I feel for them. I mean, especially for those who weren’t home,” Williams said. “I have a dog. I can’t imagine what would happen if I just ran to the store or something and came back and everything I have was on fire.”
Henrico County said anyone still seeking assistance can call 211 or 804-501-5294.
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