SHREWSBURY, Mo. — A firefighter is recovering in the hospital after battling a fire at a Shrewsbury apartment complex Monday night. Dozens of people, including college students, are now without a place to live.
About 30 people at the River Crest Apartments were displaced from the fire. More than 20 of them are international exchange students at Webster University.
Shrewsbury Fire Chief Chris Amenn said the fire started in the basement laundry room of the complex.
"There was smoke damage throughout the building, so there are 10 uninhabitable apartments," Amenn said.
According to the Shrewsbury Fire Department, the call came in shortly before 10 p.m. Monday. Firefighters arrived at the apartment complex, located at 7148 Murdoch Ave., to battle the two-alarm fire.
"Some of them lost everything. Came out with just the clothes on their back. Some of our students showed up to class this morning still smelling of smoke," said Patrick Giblin, the Public Relations Director at Webster University.
One Webster University student from Nepal said she lost everything.
"We are on the top floor," said student Yasoda Rana. "Mainly, all the damage is at the lower level, but our stuff has a ton of damage. Luckily, we are all safe."
Giblin said the university is working to help students like Rana.
"How do we get them food, clothing, a temporary place to stay? Some of them lost their homework; they lost their computers. What do we do in the short term, and then the next step is how do we assist them in the long term with new housing?" Giblin explained.
According to a press release from the Maplewood Fire Department, a rescue operation on the second floor was executed to save a young child and an adult who were trapped in a smoke-filled apartment.
One Maplewood firefighter was hospitalized for cardiac injuries sustained following the rescue and was in stable condition in the ICU as of Tuesday evening.
"We have talked to him. He's feeling better. He is recovering, but he will have a long recovery ahead of him," said Maplewood Assistant Fire Chief Matt Wilcox.
The Red Cross sheltered residents overnight. Volunteers were at the apartment complex Tuesday night, working to get them temporary shelter.
"It's just a tragedy. I feel for them; I really do. I know the community will come together to try to help them out," Giblin said.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.