Orange County Fire Rescue responded Sunday, July 5, to an apartment fire at Buena Vista Place Apartments, 8902 Buena Place, near Walt Disney World's western back-gate area.
WFTV reported that the American Red Cross sheltered several families Sunday evening after the fire forced them out of their homes. Nearly 12 units were damaged, and five remained uninhabitable.
Orange County Fire Rescue initially told WFTV that lightning damaged the building's roof. In the later WFTV report, Battalion Chief Robert Izzo said nearby storms made a lightning strike a strong possibility while the State Fire Marshal worked to determine the official cause.
Orange County Fire Rescue posted four photos from 8902 Buena Place at 5:43 p.m. EDT and directed media to gather at the clubhouse.
Buena Vista Place Apartment Fire
The OCFR photos show ladder trucks, firefighters at the roofline, smoke over the building, and a rescued small dog outside the apartment structure.
The apartment complex sits off Reams Road, close to the backstage road network used around Walt Disney World.
Update: WFTV later reported that one neighbor suffered minor injuries while trying to rescue a pet, and a firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion and was in good condition.
Sources and images: Orange County Fire Rescue and WFTV.
Image credit: Orange County Fire Rescue.