Bowling Green apartment fire displaces residents, hospitalizes 1 person

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Multiple fire departments responded to an apartment fire Wednesday that hospitalized one person and affected residents of 18 units in Bowling Green.

“When I got here and looked at my apartment, I saw the porch collapsed and flames everywhere,” said Josie Clark, who lives in the Village Court North apartments in north Bowling Green. for a decade. “I was sleeping, I went to lay down to take a nap. I just heard a big commotion up front.”

Clark watched firefighters work to contain the blaze for hours, thinking about everything she had lost.

“I was crying because all my pictures of all my grandkids were there, I lost everything,” Clark said. “I don’t know how I’m going to get them back, but I believe God will make a way.”

Family and friends of those living in the apartments came as soon as they heard what had happened, including Carol Beckley, a friend of two residents.

Beckley didn't just hear about the fire, she saw it.

“I was across the street doing my laundry and I walked to my car and saw the flames. I could tell by the direction it was my friend's apartment or the one next door, so I came straight,” she said. “When I got here, the flames were toward the sky.”

Even strangers offered to help.

“Our pastor came just to see everyone,” Beckley said. “Bowling Green is a close-knit community.”

Clark said the same thing, as people offered food and drinks to make the trip easier.

“Oh, my gosh, that's so nice. Our community loves to give,” Clark said.

Various local organizations were on hand to ensure people had a place to stay, among other types of assistance.

The condition of the injured person and the cause of the fire are not yet known.