‘DEFENSE MODE’: Fire chief calls The Breakwater fire one of largest scenes he’s worked in 22 years

Feb. 27--NEW ALBANY -- New Albany Fire Department Chief Matthew Juliot said the blaze at The Breakwater on Saturday was one of the largest scenes he's worked in his 22 years with the department.

The day started around 5 a.m. when a fire broke out in a third-floor unit at the corner of Elm and Fourth streets. The first firefighters to arrive at the luxury apartment building saw flames coming out of the window.

"Crews went in, did initial attack on the fire [and were] successful in knocking the main body of the fire down," Juliot said.

But wind gusts of around 15 miles per hour meant crews would be on scene through the night and into Sunday in temperatures dipping well below 40 degrees. Jeffersonville, Clarksville and Georgetown fire departments responded to assist, making a combined force of approximately 90 firefighters.

The 125-unit luxury apartment building that runs along the 400 block of East Fourth Street and wraps around Elm Street was under construction and unoccupied. A sprinkler system had been installed but was not yet functioning.

A second, 66-unit building in the complex was completed last month and holds around 45 occupants. That building was not affected by the fire, according to Flaherty & Collins Properties, which owns The Breakwater complex.

The scene on Saturday stretched east from Fourth and Elm Street and south onto Fifth Street. Sidewalks and side streets were blocked throughout the day and into Sunday, with fire engines and New Albany police cars barricading several roadways.

Six aerial fire trucks were used to battled the fire from above, drenching the complex in water and creating cascades from the fourth-floor balconies to the street below.

Two New Albany firefighters fell through a floor on the third floor and had to be rescued earlier in the day. Juliot said both firefighters were uninjured, but the incident prompted an evacuation.

"We went on a defensive mode at that point," he said.

The building was left scarred with broken windows and charred exteriors. Heavy smoke poured from windows and holes that had been cut into the siding. The largest clouds fell on Fifth Street.

David Lantz has lived near the corner of Fifth and Elm since before The Breakwater broke ground in December 2015. Around 8 a.m. Saturday, he walked outside to check on some loud noises he heard.

"And I came out and I just saw the hose, I didn't see the building actually smoking [and] I thought it was one of our neighbors," he said.

"Then about 10-ish we came back out, saw more trucks, more smoke. Figured out it was the new apartments here and were kind of shocked."

But Lantz said he wasn't surprised by how fast and far the fire spread throughout the building given the weather conditions. The wind brought the smoke to his doorstep, leaving a lingering smell on his clothes each time he went back inside.

Around 80 units were believed to be affected by the fire. Juliot said it will be up to property managers and insurance companies to determine the extent of the damage, but in his opinion, "it's more than likely a total loss."

By Sunday morning, crews used an excavator to tear down deteriorating portions of the building along Elm Street. Firefighters continued to battle hot spots.

As firefighters battled to salvage what they couldon Saturday, Salvation Army volunteers were on hand to provide food, hot coffee and Gatorade. Salvation Army New Albany Housing Director Leslie Cairo said volunteers took shifts walking around the scene and passing out the much-needed nourishment.

"It's unfortunate circumstances, but it feels great to be able to assist, and we're just fortunate that this section of the complex where the fire happened is not populated," Cairo said. "That's a huge, huge blessing and so we're just relieved that we don't have to worry about a rescue mission."

Cairo said the firefighters always let volunteers know how grateful they are for their help.

"And that's gratifying to know that they really appreciate that we are here to assist."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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