NO RESIDENTS INJURED IN MONDAY NIGHT'S TUCSON HOUSE FIRE ON NORTH ORACLE ROAD
Tucson Fire Department (TFD) crews were dispatched to Tucson House at 1501 N. Oracle Rd., shortly after 8 p.m. Monday night to suppress a fire on a 13th-floor balcony. TFD’s quick response prevented the fire from spreading to other apartments.
There were no reported injuries.
Tucson House staff from the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), along with Red Cross personnel, immediately supported residents with evacuation and communication. Fourteen residents were displaced and were relocated to a hotel or the home of a family member. A few residents were evaluated for respiratory issues, but no one was transported. TFD said the cause of the fire is undetermined.
As of Tuesday morning, nine residents returned to their apartments while five residents will remain in a hotel until their apartments are cleared of smoke and/or water damage.
The fire was mostly contained to one unit and the sprinkler system worked as designed. Almost all the units will be able to be occupied within the next few days. HCD does not anticipate any structural damage, but a structural engineer is scheduled to inspect the affected units tomorrow.
Tucson House is the City of Tucson’s largest public housing complex with more than 400 apartments on 16 floors and is slated to undergo a multi-year renovation which is scheduled to begin by end of this year.
Two years ago, the City of Tucson and HCD received a $50 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reinvest in Tucson House.
Tucson House will transition from the traditional public housing program to a voucher-based system under the Housing Choice Voucher program. In 1979 the City of Tucson acquired the 408-unit Tucson House and converted the building into public housing.
HCD wants to thank Tucson Fire, Planning and Development Services, and Tucson Police Department who had staff respond and coordinate swiftly.
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