At least 23 displaced, 1 taken to hospital after high-rise apartment fire in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — A fire at Hugh Taylor Apartments, located at the 1700 block of East High Street in Springfield, has resulted in more than 20 people displaced and one taken to the hospital, according to fire officials.

When crews arrived at the seven-story apartment building, they found an apartment on the sixth floor fully engulfed with an open doorway.

The open doorway allowed smoke to fill the common hallway, resulting in one occupant being transported to the hospital for a smoke inhalation injury, according to fire officials.

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Barry Wallaze, a resident at Hugh Taylor Apartments, told News Center 7′s Candace Price that he could not see or smell anything, at first.

“I heard the alarms going off. I looked out the door to see if it was just my apartment or the whole floor,” said Wallaze. “When I went over by the elevators then I saw the smoke. [The hallways were] completely gone.”

All residents on the sixth floor are displaced, along with some residents on the seventh floor.

Fire officials were unable to give an exact number, but said there were at least 20 people displaced. Red Cross were on scene and have made arrangements for 23 people.

According to the Red Cross, most of those people that were displaced, already had arrangements, but the organization were able to help them with food and other relief.

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The cause of the fire is still under investigation. We will continue to update this story as we learn more.

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