April Antwine, a resident of Orchard Apartments in Kansas City, Missouri, described the terrifying moments when the fire broke out. “I was in the apartment when the fire came through my living room.
It came from my patio door,” she recalled. The fire, which started early in the morning, displaced 16 adults and seven children. Although Antwine’s two children were not home at the time, she was shocked by the loud screams when the blaze began.
“I woke up to screams and ran to the living room where I saw it on fire. I grabbed my phone and ran out just shy of the flames from the patio. I ran out shoe and sockless,” she said.
The fire started on the first floor of the building and quickly spread to the upper floors. Antwine believes the fire originated on her patio and spread into her living room.
The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the scene, but the investigation is still ongoing, as the fire caused significant damage. Investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
In the aftermath, Antwine and her family are focused on rebuilding their lives. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help replace the belongings lost in the fire, including clothes, shoes, and household items.
Despite the hardship, Antwine remains hopeful, expressing gratitude for her family’s safety. “Material things come and go. I am grateful for life, I give all glory to God! He will turn it all around!”
In a fortunate turn of events, Orchard Apartments offered Antwine a new unit, and she and her family are preparing to move into their new home soon.