Dozens left homeless after Holts Summit apartment fire

Fire crews from South Callaway, New Bloomfield, and Jefferson City were working a 4-alarm fire at a Holts Summit apartment complex Friday afternoon.

ABC 17 confirmed the Evergreen Apartments were severely damaged by a fire that started between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. 26 out of 29 apartments were occupied, according to the owner of Capital City Properties.

Officials told ABC 17 News children were playing with matches or a lighter on a mattress in an apartment while they were home with a babysitter. The children involved were 4 years old, 5, and 9 months old. Highway Patrol officers advised the children’s mother to take them to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation, but as of this afternoon they were not evaluated.

Jefferson City fire crews were called in as backup and the complex was evacuated. No one was injured, and a few pets were saved.

The Red Cross is giving the affected families pre-loaded debit cards, clothing, and putting them up in hotels for the time being. 10 Red Cross volunteers were helping families Friday afternoon.

SERVPRO, a fire and water clean-up service showed up to the scene Friday night. The company is surveying the damage and boarding up the building. There is no estimate on damages yet. Officials said it’s unclear if residents will ever be able to move back into the building.

Capital City Properties also lost an apartment complex to a fire on Capitol Avenue in Jefferson City about two years ago.