Lightning identified as source of fire

Dothan Fire marshals have identified lightning as the source of a fire that destroyed a building and displaced 15 families at Tarragon Hills Apartments on Westgate Parkway Sunday night.

“What I can tell you is there was a lightning strike halfway down the building in the roof section,” said Bert Daum, assistant fire marshal with the Dothan Fire Department. “We have eyewitness accounts that support that.”

Some residents reported hearing between one and three booms just before smoke was spotted, so firemen are not ruling out multiple strikes. The strike or strikes knocked out power to the building.

“Residents knew their power was out, but they didn’t know there was a fire,” Daum said.

By the time firefighters arrived at 6:10 p.m. Sunday, flames were visible from the roof and heavy smoke billowed out all four eaves of the building.

The strike to Building F occurred on the southwest side of the building, the one with the heaviest damage, facing Heritage Baptist Church. The 16-unit building was destroyed, with the roof burning off, windows bursting out and the collapsing of one stairwell.

As a stark contrast were remnants of everyday life on individual balconies – potted plants seemingly unaffected by the flames, waterlogged rugs and partially-melted patio sets.

All 28 to 30 residents who lived there got out safely and there were no injuries, firemen said. One of the apartments was vacant and another was recently rented.

“One fella moved in Friday,” Daum said.

Tarragon Hills Manager Carolyn Forston said the complex is attempting to find homes for the residents at either Tarragon, Fieldcrest or Whatley Square Apartments.

“We are trying to locate beds for them. Most of these apartments are unfurnished and we had some extra furniture,” she said.

Most of the displaced tenants spent Sunday night in one of two Dothan hotels, paid for by the local Red Cross. Barbara Dobbins of Apartment F-79 said the Red Cross is paying for two nights at a hotel.

Dobbins, her husband Keith, and their daughter, LeKeisha, were among those who came back to the apartments the morning after the fire to see what might be salvaged.

“We are working one-on-one with people to try and get a few things out,” Daum said. “We can access some of the apartments but some, where the roof collapsed, there is not anything salvageable.”

Daum said firefighters have retrieved medications, a watch, clothing and other personal items for residents.

Dobbins yells up for Daum, who is inside her apartment, and Assistant Fire Marshal Garrett Crow, on a ladder, to retrieve a blue striped bag hanging on her closet door. She learns that her closet is intact. Some items have a little soot, but not that much.

Out the upstairs window comes blue jeans, pants and shirts, a laptop that is probably ruined, school books and other personal items.

LeKeisha’s face lights up as the familiar Northview burgundy Color Guard suits see the light of day.

“All she cares about it her flag corp stuff and her TV,” Keith Dobbins says.

As they seek to rebuild their lives, Keith Dobbins said he and his family are grateful for what they have.

“We will take it one day at a time,” he said. “It could have been a lot worse.”