Blaze in Hunters Ridge prompts prevention education

by Allison Gossett, contributing writer

The recent fire in Hunters Ridge is one more to add to the list of fires that have occurred in off-campus communities. Because of this incident, local fire officials are warning students how to both prevent and protect themselves in case of fire.

Early Oct. 2, two residents of 1317 Bradley Drive in Hunters Ridge returned home to find smoke coming from one of their bedrooms.

The fire that occurred at the townhouse caused no injuries, but left the four residents without a home.

The bedroom where the fire started had to be gutted, while the rest of the apartment and bedrooms suffered water and smoke damage. Costs to repair the damages are expected to exceed the original estimate of between $75,000 and $85,000. The property owner did have insurance on the property, so the former residents will not have to pay for the damages.

Currently, JMU and Lee & Associates, the group that manages some of the apartments in Hunters Ridge, are working to help the students who have found themselves homeless a place to stay.

The recent fire in Hunters Ridge is not the first in student apartments at JMU. Approximately five years ago, a charcoal grill left on the balcony of an Ashby Crossing residence destroyed three apartments with the cost in damages totaling  $500,000. A year or so later, a cigarette butt blew across a building in The Commons, wiping out the entire third floor. Just last year, an apartment was in flames in a matter of minutes after a candle left burning unattended caught the top floor of a FoxHill townhouse on fire.

There were no smoke alarms in the hall, just in the bedroom, so the alarm did not immediately go off and alert the residents. In all of these incidents, JMU students were described as nothing but helpful for both assistance in moving cars by lifting them or by alerting residents.

Local firefighters are often called out for a number of things that do not do as much damage as the recent fire. Mishaps have been caused by people leaving pizza boxes in the oven, popcorn catching fire in microwaves, and improper disposal of cleaning agents.

Wanda Willis, Fire Prevention Education Officer in Harrisonburg, offers valuable advice to students to easily prevent fires from happening. 

“It is the little things that people don’t always think might lead to a fire that can end disastrously.  These things are even more easily overlooked when drinking,” explains Willis. 

There are a number of things students can do to both prevent and prepare in case a fire occurs. City Fire Marshall Gary Lucas said renter’s insurance is one of the most important things students can do to protect themselves in the event of a fire financially. 

 Fire officials also stress unnecessarily pulling fire alarms  lessens the effect of a fire alarm. Lucas explained, “When the fire alarm is constantly going off in places like Ashby and Southview, people stop listening to it and might not wake up for a real fire.”

Wanda Willis explained the importance of calling immediately in the event of a fire, no matter how small.