Woman in fair condition after being burned in New Albany fire

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February 9, 2010

Four families displaced, smoking materials not ruled out as cause

By MATT THACKER The News and Tribune Tue Feb 09, 2010, 07:37 PM EST

A 58-year-old New Albany woman was hospitalized Tuesday morning with burns, while at least 10 people were displaced as the result of an early morning fire at an apartment complex.

The New Albany Fire Department received a 911 call at 5:11 a.m. from Renessa Norton reporting a fire at an apartment building at 3415 Tabor Court, off of Mount Tabor Road.

The fire department arrived within four minutes and found heavy fire in the second floor and attic, according to Capt. Jodie Wilson, investigator for NAFD.

Everyone had evacuated the building by the time first responders reached the building. Norton’s mother, Theresa Tucker, suffered burns to the upper part of her body.

Tucker suffered burns to more than 30 percent of her body and had serious injuries, Wilson said. She is listed in fair condition at University Hospital in Louisville.

Wilson said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but he has not ruled out smoking materials. The fire originated in Tucker’s bedroom between her bed and recliner.

Norton lives with her husband, mother and two young children, Wilson said.

There were four apartments and four families living in the building, Wilson said. While fire officials have not contacted everyone living in the building, at least 10 people were displaced.

The second floor of the building suffered heavy fire damage, while the first floor had heavy water damage.

“The building will have to be replaced,” Wilson said. “The entire roof was burnt from the building.”

Despite heavy snow falling at the time, the weather did not adversely affect the fire department’s work, Wilson said. He said there were no problems with water freezing.

It was not immediately known what living arrangements had been made for those displaced by the fire.