LONOKE COUNTY, Ark. (KTHV) - “My wife and I was just laying asleep and heard this bumping at the door,” said Sylvester Williams.
The knocking Williams heard was his neighbor, warning him that a fire broke out at this apartment home. His first instinct was to save his 19-year-old grandson who is disabled.
“I tried to get my grandson to bring him out the front door but couldn’t get him, so we had to go back to the room that I drug him from to try to break the glass,” said Williams.
His wife, daughter and grandson who all live in the 5th Street Apartments in Lonoke got out OK. But for one resident that wasn’t the case.
“I kind of wished I would have asked him his name now because you never know when you’re going to see somebody for the last time,” said Williams.
Lonoke Fire Chief, Justin Whittenburg, confirmed that one person died in the fire. He also said that multiple people were injured.
The department said a call came in around 3 a.m., Saturday morning, August 18, with the caller saying a kitchen fire broke out at the Lonoke complex on the 200th block of East Fifth Street.
Williams said he’s only lost things that can be replaced.
“I’m standing here with my sister’s crocks on and her shirt. But I made it. I made it,” he said.
His vehicles melted in the heat, but he has a positive outlook.
“Material things are just material things,” said Williams.
The apartment manager, Lloyd Nichols, never imagined a tragedy happening at the recently remodeled complex.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Nichols.
Nichols is working with the community to get families what they need. Donations are being collected at the Lonoke Police Department and the Community Center.
The Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.