Issues with fire hydrants at Clayton apartment delay firefighters from battling blaze

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Dozens of people are without a home after a fire burned down an apartment building in Clayton County.

Clayton County firefighters were called to The Ashford at Stoneridge Apartments on Flat Shoals Road just after 7 p.m.

Channel 2′s Darryn Moore has learned that while fighting the fire, crews ran into issues with the fire hydrants inside the complex. In order to battle the blaze, firefighters had to run hoses outside of the complex.

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Clayton County firefighters, along with College Park firefighters, battled the fire, evacuated residents from their units and began to fight the blaze.

Chester Jackson says he as able to help get some of his neighbors to safety.

“Me and my neighbors, we came out and started kicking doors in. We had Clayton County sheriff’s department, police department running down kicking doors in, we were getting neighbors out,” Jackson told Moore.

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Red Cross officials said the fire destroyed a 16-unit building. Fifteen units were occupied, leaving a total of 38 people displaced.

“We done lost everything,” resident Aquantis Williams said. “We done lost everything out here: clothes, shoes, valuable stuff.”

Early Thursday morning, demolition crews were at the apartment complex tearing down what was left of the burned down building.

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The Ashford at Stoneridge Apartments fire This is what is left of a building destroyed in a fire at The Ashford at Stoneridge Apartments in Clayton County. Photo: John Spink/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Clayton County fire officials say the fire hydrants at The Ashford at Stoneridge Apartments had a “reduced amount of water pressure.” They say the hydrants were serviced in October 2021 and no issues were reported.

The Fire Marshal’s office and the Water Authority are working to figure out why the water pressure in the hydrants were reduced.

Fire officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“Those in need of assistance will receive help with essentials such as temporary lodging, food, clothing, and personal care/health items,” Red Cross officials said in a statement. “Caseworkers will continue to work with the families in the weeks ahead to help them get back on their feet with recovery guidance and support.”

None of the residents inside of the units were injured.

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