South Tulsa Condo Fire Sends Firefighter To Hospital

Several families in South Tulsa are starting over after losing everything to a fire. 

A firefighter is also recovering after getting hurt on the job. 

As a row of condos at the Pepper Tree complex near 81st and Yale was on fire early Sunday morning, everyone who lived inside escaped the flames before firefighters got there.

"It was pretty intense," said Neighbor Richard Jones, "There were probably 50, 60-foot flames coming off this building."

"Except for one cat. They did find the cat. It's back with its owner and doing well," said Assistant Fire Chief Stacy Belk with TFD. 

"Everybody was out here helping everybody else that they could," Jones said. 

Neighbors said eight families are impacted.
 
Several things were saved from the units but some people lost everything. 

Firefighters said the cause is still under investigation but said it most likely started from someone smoking on a balcony.

"It could have been a discarded cigarette or smoking material. If it started on the balcony, there's obviously, usually not, anything on balconies that can cause a fire," said Belk. 

Belk said wet sheetrock from a ceiling fell down on a firefighter, sending him to the hospital. 

"It kinda knocked him to the ground. He was never knocked unconscious or anything like that," Belk said. 

He's back home with his family now and expected to be okay. 

"He's just gonna be sore for the next couple of days," Belk said. 

As for the families who are starting over, firefighters said they all have a place to stay for the night. 

"Hopefully they'll recover. It's just sad that they have to be forced out of their homes," said Jones.