SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County announced on Tuesday that officials are trying to address “life safety concerns” at a local apartment complex.
In a release, county officials said that the issues were identified at the Pebble Creek at Lake Mary apartment complex, located at 780 Creekwater Terrace in unincorporated Seminole County.
According to the county, there was an incident on Feb. 27 during stairwell repair work, when materials inside a wall caught fire.
“The incident caused smoke to impact multiple units and required Seminole County Fire Department crews to open parts of the building to ensure the fire had not spread,” the release reads. “A follow-up review raised broader safety concerns about the building.”
Per the county, deficiencies were further identified related to “egress and overall life safety,” including stairwell conditions and other structural elements.
As a result, 72 units were deemed unsafe for occupancy and were required to be vacated, county officials noted.
“Of those, 48 units were unoccupied at the time,” the release continues. “The complex includes 472 units across 28 buildings.”
Seminole County announced on Tuesday night that Emergency Management and the Red Cross were on site to help residents with immediate needs and coordinate support services.
Many residents have also been able to relocate to other available units in the complex, the release shows.