A Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department drone shows the Rise Doro fire at its height. after the roof had burned out and floors collapsed inside. | Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
Published on February 22, 2024 at 5:38 pm
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Dramatic new video — woven with frantic radio calls — shows the blaze at the Rise Doro apartment building growing out of control after firefighters thought they had tamped it down.
The video, released this week by the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, captures flames erupting Jan. 28 from the roof of the seven-story complex on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard, as firefighters realize the fire was chewing through the sixth and seventh floors.
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“Command, Engine 9, we got fire coming through the roof. Southwest corner.”
“Ladder 4, Squad 4, we got the hallway here on the fifth floor, right where the original fire was. We can see where the fire has started back up in that same little area of the hallway.”
“You got fire above your head now, coming through the roof.”
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That’s when commanders call for everyone to evacuate.
“Fire 4, you got two fires that are burning, southwest corner and the top of the building, and I’ve repositioned now, and the south side of the building midway — pull all of the crews out.”
“We are fixing to put some aerial streams on the building. Whatever you are doing with the hand lines is not effective. All crews from command, come out of the building now. … Leave your equipment and come out of the building. All crews through command, out of the building ASAP.”
The fire ended up burning for days, before the tedious process of dismantling the rubble began. The developer, Rise: A Real Estate Company, plans to rebuild.
When the blaze began
The 247-unit apartment building was just over a month from opening when the fire broke out about 9:30 p.m. Jan. 28, before growing into what Fire Chief Keith Powers called one of the worst fires in the city in a decade. More than 110 firefighters battled it as smoke billowed for miles.
Shortly after firefighters arrived, they can be heard on the video confirming that they have gotten to the roof and see no fire. Video shows an external stairway on a parking garage corner that goes up only to the third floor, with nothing above. That’s when they find out that the sprinkler system doesn’t work.
WATCH: Hourlong video shows firefighters battling the blaze
“Command Fire 4, have we been advised if the FDC is operational?” a firefighter asks on the radio. (The FDC — or Fire Department Connection — is part of the fire sprinkler system).
“Negative,” the response comes.
The word is given to raise the ladders to the roof and start spraying the structure. Shortly after that, a firefighter radios in about efforts to douse the blaze.
“All companies, be advised — this is burning upwards from the sixth floor to the seventh floor hallway. We’ve got two rooms on fire, heavily involved, with the door shut. But it is burning upwards from the sixth floor.”
“This building’s under construction. Watch your feet in front of you as you are moving.”
Another firefighter reports that the fire has “burned through the floor in the hallway of the apartment that we are in.”
“We are going to put out what we can put out here, then move on down.”
“Copy that. Be careful working above the fire. Let’s get down on the fire floor as quickly as you can.”
Video shows smoke pouring out of balcony windows as firefighters climb ladder trucks to get inside. Yet through many apartment windows, lights are on. A ceiling span spins in one room, showing how close parts of the building were to opening to new residents.
Firefighters report increasing heat as a chilling radio report comes in of something else not yet completed in the smoky building.
”All companies coming off the south stairwell — watch when you come off your floors. There are unprotected stairs — unprotected elevator shafts.”
‘It looks like it’s started again’
At one point early in the firefighting, radio calls from firefighters say the blaze is under control on the sixth and seventh floors. Then a firefighter advises that there’s “a bit of fire” in Apartment 720, followed by another who says “one of these apartments is starting to light off” on the seventh floor, on the building’s south side.
“Engine 11, looks like it’s started again in the attic space on the seventh floor.”
Smoke gets heavier on the seventh floor. Another firefighter says they can’t get to its west side because “the stairs are not constructed yet.”
Then comes the calls to evacuate, Commanders do roll calls to make sure all squads are out. As the video shows heavy fire and smoke flowing from the rooftop, all crews are heard confirming they are out.
Almost a month later, the state fire marshal’s office says the fire remains under investigation. No cause has been announced. Demolition continues.
Lead image: A Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department drone shows the Rise Doro fire at its height. after the roof had burned out and floors collapsed inside. | Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
