Southside: Apartment fire at Paradise Island Apartments, JFRD says

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax’s Christy Turner is pressing Paradise Island apartment complex for answers about safety after a fire destroyed 20 units | Click here to watch live on CBS47 and FOX30 at 5

Several families are without a home after a fire at a Southside apartment complex. I’m live at noon with the latest. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/SDxXBXZv7s
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 3, 2020

Update Feb. 2, 9:15 p.m.: The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said a firefighter who was hospitalized after combating a blaze at an apartment complex has been released and is back home.

Update.... our firefighter has been released from the hospital and is home resting.
— MyJFRD (@JFRDJAX) February 3, 2020

Original story: A firefighter is being treated at a hospital after “being hit by a falling object” while battling an apartment fire on Southside Boulevard, according to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.

DEVELOPING: A firefighter is now being treated at a hospital and two animals were just rescued from inside the burning building @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/kXTyvcqjGb
— Jamarlo Phillips (@JamarloANjax) February 2, 2020

JFRD tweeted that a dog and car were rescued from the fire 3 hours after crews got to the scene.

Crews have now rescued a dog and a cat alive from these apartments.
— MyJFRD (@JFRDJAX) February 2, 2020

The apartment fire was reported at Paradise Island Apartments building 52 (7800 Paradise Island Boulevard) around 1 p.m., according to Jacksonville Fire Rescue.

VIDEO: Check out this massive fire that broke out at Paradise Island Apartments off of Southside Boulevard in #Jacksonville @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/au8wVXtF9z
— Jamarlo Phillips (@JamarloANjax) February 2, 2020

Red Cross was requested for 20 units affected by this fire.

The fire was deemed “under control” roughly an hour after it was initially reported.

Neighbors on the Southside are thankful for a group of students from Tulsa Welding School who called 911 and helped save some of their animals. Sadly, they weren’t able to save all of the animals because of heavy flames.