Aiken's Colony Apartment fire investigation continues

July 24--Investigators believe a fire leaving 22 Aiken residents homeless Monday night began on the balcony of a second-floor apartment.

The incident report released Thursday by the Aiken Department of Public Safety sheds some light on the apartment fire that burned through 16 units around 11:30 p.m. Monday at The Colony at South Park, off Whiskey Road.

Investigators believe the fire started on the balcony of Apartment N on the second floor, according to the report.

The occupant of the apartment told authorities she and her boyfriend were both at the residence when the fire started.

They both said they think the fire started on the balcony but don't know why, according to the report.

Investigators still have not confirmed the origin of the blaze, said Aiken Public Safety Lt. Jason Mahoney.

Some residents reported their sprinkler systems and smoke alarms did not go off.

Aiken Public Safety is investigating every aspect, including whether sprinklers turned on and alarms sounded, but nothing is certain at this time, said Public Safety Chief Charles Barranco.

"There is no water sprinkler malfunction that we are aware of at this time," he said.

A briefing about the investigation has been set for Friday afternoon, Barranco said.

The fire was reported by an off-duty police officer, Public Safety Officer Porter Smith.

Within minutes, the fire burned through 16 apartment units, according to the incident report.

All apartments were evacuated, and no one was seriously injured, though many residents are now in need of simple necessities, as they did not have time to grab many of their belongings, according to the report.

John Piretti, a Colony resident who did not live in the burned building, said a friend of his is one of the tenants whose apartment went up in flames.

"My friend did not hear any alarms going off," he said. "My friend woke up and felt his lungs burning. That's how he knew something was wrong."

According to Piretti and Ted Roberts, another tenant who lost everything in the fire, no alarms went off during the fire, and no ceiling sprinklers were engaged.

"I heard my neighbors stomping around," Roberts told the Aiken Standard on Tuesday. "I heard them go next door and start yelling about a fire."

When asked about the sprinklers, officials with The Colony at South Park had no comment.

Piretti said his friend is worried about what he's going to do because he does not have renter's insurance and basically lost everything. He said the Red Cross gave his friend a debit card to help with food and clothes.

Red Cross Disaster Specialist Joey Hutto said the 22 people affected by the fire each received different aid, depending on their situations.

"Assistance was varied among the victims according to their specific needs," said Hutto. "Some were given lodging while others had family members to stay with."

The owners of the complex also are offering the tenants leases to new apartments, some of which are in The Woodwinds complex owned by the same company.

There also is a donation area at the main office of The Colony where people can donate any items they would like to help the victims.

Any monetary donations can be made to the Red Cross online at redcross.org, by calling the local Red Cross at 803-641-4152 or by dropping off a donation at the office at 1314 Pine Log Road.

Reporter Will Whaley contributed to this report.

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