Crime & Safety
Columbia Apartment Fire: ‘It Was So Scary’
One family tells their story of escaping the Thursday morning blaze at an apartment complex on Stevens Forest Road.
When the Hong family awoke up early Thursday morning, the blazing apartment building on Stevens Forest Road where they lived together was already filled with smoke.
They were among the residents stuck in the three-story building and rescued by firefighters in the blaze that trapped residents, injured seven and forced 34 to flee their homes.
“The smoke was all around us,” said Ina Hong who lives on the third floor of 5638 Stevens Forest Road. “It was so scary, I don’t even really remember that moment.”
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Howard County fire officials have not yet determined a cause, but are not calling the fire suspicious.
As of Thursday morning, all 34 residents occupying the 12 units at the apartment have been provided temporary housing, including the Hong family, which is staying in a local hotel, said Red Cross officials.
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Ina Hong, who declined to be photographed Thursday, said she shares her apartment unit with her brother Don Hong and mother Mikwoun Hong.
Hong said her brother was the first to hear the fire alarms going off around 1:30 a.m., and he awoke her and her mother.
She said they tried to leave the apartment unit, but the outside hallway was too thick with smoke to make an escape.
Trapped in the apartment for several minutes, Hong said she opened a rear-facing window and saw firefighters had already arrived on the scene.
Shouting to firefighters for help, Hong said her family managed to hold out until rescuers could make their way up to the apartment. After reaching the Hong’s apartment they were able to escort them to safety.
Red Cross volunteers Louie Jerez and Ken Smallwood were still at the apartment complex Thursday morning helping residents arrange temporary housing.
Jerez said he arrived at about 2 a.m., traveling from his home in Pasadena. He said he began speaking with families and handing out ‘comfort kits’ to residents that included food, clothing and small stuffed animals for the kids.
“Many people are shocked,” Jerez said. “Most of them have lost everything.”
