A fire in one unit at Riverview Senior Apartments in Franklinton Sunday night forced the evacuation of the entire building.
Residents were evacuated via Council on Aging buses and were taken to Franklinton High School and Hillcrest Baptist Church.
The apartment complex is located on South Main Street near Riverside Medical Center.
Washington Parish Homeland Security director Bobbi Jo Breland said Parish and Town of Franklinton officials were working with the management of the apartment complex and the state Fire Marshal’s to ensure that residents could safely return to the complex. Once the building was declared safe for occupancy, residents were allowed to return.
Ms Breland offered thanks to the Red Cross, Franklinton High School, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Franklinton Mayor Darwin Sharp, the Council on Aging, and the Franklinton Police and Fire Departments for all of their assistance. She had a special thanks to the Sugar Shack Restaurant of Franklinton for help feeding all of the displaced residents. Washington Parish officials and private citizens also offered assistance following the fire.
One of the apartment complex's residents told The Era-Leader it was "heartfelt" that so much assistance was provided by officials, FHS, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Sugar Shack, and private residents. In addition, the resident commended the Franklinton Fire Department for "really being there for us."
