Heroic efforts, daylong battle end in loss of apartment complex

HAMILTON —Although firefighters gave it their ultimate effort, fighting fire for more than six hours on Friday, Feb. 13, the Diamond Hollow Apartment complex in Hamilton was a total loss by the end of the day.
Hamilton Fire Department Assistant Chief Matt McCracken provided an overview of the situation, which began at 9:21 a.m. with the report of an apartment fire in the 100 block of Third Avenue Southeast.
“Just prior to our arrival, the Hamilton Police Department reported over the radio there were multiple apartments on fire,” he said.
“We arrived on scene within just a couple of minutes of being called to find exactly what the police department had reported—there were multiple apartments on fire.
“From the front side, there was  some fire and a lot of smoke showing. But if you went around to the back side of the apartments, the lower tier of apartments 5, 6, 7 and 8—apartments 6, 7 and 8 were all fully  engulfed in fire within minutes of this fire being called in.”
At the same time his department began its fire attack, establishing a water supply from the hydrants nearby, search and rescue was also being carried out.
“In those early moments of being on scene, obviously we wanted to make sure all the tenants and residents were out and in safe locations,” he said.