‘It was tough’, Brusly families in distress after fire tore through apartments

BRUSLY, La. (BRPROUD) – The lives of 18 people have been changed after a fire ripped through the Riverside Village Apartments on Sunday February 12.

Five locomotives from the West Baton Rouge Fire Department rolled out of the complex just before 6:00 p.m. and immediately went to work to put out the fire. It took about an hour for the fire to be brought under control, according to Chief Butch Browning. Browning said the apartments suffered extensive damage and firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings.

Four units were affected by this fire, along with two single mothers and 14 children, according to Riverside Village Apartments manager Shantel Atkins. Atkins said: “The fire was devastating to me so I can only imagine how my tenants are feeling. I haven’t slept much and am wondering what I can do to help. It’s been tough and I can only imagine what the mothers feel as they take on their children’s pain and try to cope with the rebuilding.

One of the moms currently in Reconstruction is Rachael Pointer. Pointer and her six children, Jailyn, Houston IV, Marvin, Gregory Jr, Christian and Kamryn are now looking for a place to live. Pointer said everyone was watching TV when a neighbor knocked on the door and asked if she could call 911 about a fire in her unit.

Pointer said she then saw smoke in her unit and everyone got out safely. Since the fire took place, Pointer said her family has been stressed and overwhelmed with the recovery. The single mom wants to stay positive and is grateful for those who have given food and clothing to her family. Pointer said, “All we can do is endure it day after day, knowing that God has us.”

Shacosta Tillman was in another unit with her three children, Jamell, Jacobi and Keshana, having just returned home from the store when the fire forced them to flee. Tillman is also looking for a new home with her children. For the time being, the family of four is staying in a hotel. The single mother said they needed clothes, groceries and shoes.

If you want to help these families, Atkins said you can drop off anything you can donate at the apartment office, which is located at 789 South Vaughn Street.

There were no reported injuries related to this fire. The Louisiana State Fire Marshal is still trying to figure out what started the fire. The Red Cross was asked to help those displaced by the fire.