Resident of Bentley Green apartments fire says alarms didn't go off

Flames and smoke are the things that apartment resident Lisa Howell last remembered when fire engulfed her building at Bentley Green Apartments on Saturday night.

She also remembered not hearing any fire alarms go off. “None of our alarms went off,” Howell said.

Howell said her brother-in-law went door-to-door, waking up other renters. He helped evacuate residents as the fire, which started from a stove top, had tore through several units.

Tenant Joey Soares said he also noticed the absence of fire alarms. “If we had been sleeping at night and the fire alarms didn’t go off, it could have been much, much worse,” Soares said.

Photos: Firefighters put out fire in Southside apartment complex

According to Howell, the complex is responsible for maintaining unit smoke detectors. She said she contacted management and was told that the issue is being looked into.

The complex told Action News Jax that it is responsible for replacing smoke detector batteries only when a tenant requests the replacement.

Howell said she didn’t contact management about a battery change, now, she’ll have to start all over and find a new place to stay.

Cox Media Group