14 families displaced in Ludlow fire

Fourteen families are displaced after a fire ravaged River's Breeze condominiums in Ludlow overnight.

Clothes, papers and personal items scattered the front lawns of the condominiums in the 600 block of of River's Breeze Drive on Saturday as residents worked to salvage what remained of their burnt homes.

The fire broke out around 1 a.m. Saturday morning and quickly spread through the 14 condominiums, said Bob Rentz, property manager. It will take six to nine months for restoration crews to repair the damage, he said.

Firefighters battled the flames for most of the night, Rentz said. There is a giant hole in the roof of the complex and porches that once offered a view of the Cincinnati skyline are burnt and collapsed.

Rentz ordered pizza for the displaced residents as they sorted through smoldering debris and charred personal items for salvageable property — many wore the same clothes from the night before.

"I'm glad no one was hurt," said Mike Amrhein, who moved into a unit five years ago. "Everything else can be bought."

Amrhein and his girlfriend, Laine Reedijk, were watching a movie in his second-floor condominium when they heard a crackling noise. They initially thought the sound was rain or hail but then the couple saw smoke filtering into the room through the sprinkler system, Reedijk said.

"We came outside and called 911," Reedijk said. "I was running back and forth, banging on everyone's doors. I was so scared someone was going to get hurt."

No injuries were reported in the fire, according to Rentz. The American Red Cross is working to place residents into hotels until they can move back into their apartments.

Jaclyn Madill moved into a River's Breeze condominium with her boyfriend six days ago. They initially thought their home would be spared from the flames, but within minutes the blaze spread across the roof, she said.

"The smoke smell is the worst," said Jordan Smith, who has lived in a neighboring unit for three months. "There is a ton of water damage. All of the electronics are ruined."

Smith and Amrhein are staying with friends until they can return to their homes.

Theresa McKinney, who has lived in her condominium for five years, said her dog Ozzy, woke her up during the fire.

She exited through the back of her condominium and saw the flames climbing up the side of the building, McKinney said.

"The community has been so awesome," McKinney said. "I'm staying with one of my neighbors."

McKinney said her home suffered mostly water and smoke damage. She isn't sure how much property she lost in the fire.

"Everybody got out," she said. "But it's still just devastating."