Dozens displaced after suspected kitchen fire spreads through apartment complex

KETTERING — Firefighters extinguished a massive fire at an apartment complex in Kettering on Tuesday.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, the fire was reported in the 5100 block of Scarsdale Drive at the Catham Village apartment complex around 6:40 p.m.

>> PHOTOS: Fire breaks out at local apartment complex

News Center 7 obtained video of massive flames coming from the roof of one of the buildings.

Kettering fire crews said they believe the fire started in a kitchen and then quickly spread to another building.

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News Center 7 spoke with a man who lives just three units down from the one that caught fire.

“I came home from work and by the time I parked my car, I was hearing someone calling for help, and I started running to him to see what’s going on, and he was telling me that there’s a fire in his house,” Abdullah Abulmahmoud said.

Abulmahmoud said he quickly started searching for a fire extinguisher.

He couldn’t find one in the burning unit, so he ranhome to grab his.

“The fire was already eating the house, you know? I tried to go in, but the smoke was really tough, you know, so I couldn’t do anything to be honest,” Abulmahmoud said.

He added that the smoke was intense.

He was checked out by firefighters when they arrived on scene, but is okay.

The man yelling for help is also alright.

“And we did have one firefighter evaluated after some debris fell on him, but he’s safe, he’s stable, and he did not get transported,” Kettering Fire Battalion Chief Kyle Denlinger said.

“One cat was rescued after the fire was out; it’s stable and doing just fine,” Denlinger added. “We actually just found the owner, and she’s very excited that her cat is okay.”

Abulmahmoud said he’s grateful everyone is okay, but is sad to think some of his neighbors can’t go home.

Fire crews said about 15 people were displaced from the fire, and another 20 were displaced due to the loss of power.

“If there’s someone who doens’t have a house, I can open my house for them, you know,” Abulmahmoud said. “I’m upset, to be honest. I tried to do something, but I couldn’t.”

Denlinger said power crews are working to get it turned back on so those affected can go back home as soon as possible.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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