A Sunday morning fire at the Harding Glen Condos off Harding Place in South Nashville has displaced at least six families, leaving residents without a place to stay even though they had just paid that month’s rent. The blaze started in an upstairs apartment before firefighters brought the flames under control, but tenants say the damage left behind — water pooling in closets, dining rooms and hallways — has made their homes unlivable.
According to WSMV, residents rushed out of the building as the fire broke out, with one resident saying they took their children outside after spotting smoke from their porch. Another resident described a neighbor who ran into the street with her two children while searching for her pets amid the chaos. Water damage reached one resident’s closets and dining room, ruining clothes stored inside, and tenants say they still do not know whether their units have an underlying gas or electrical problem.
Water Damage Complicates Residents’ Return
Some tenants said they worry about their units’ proximity to an air conditioner and fear another fire involving water and electrical components. Others raised concerns about lingering humidity and their children’s health. Residents said they want the water cleaned up so they can assess whether it is safe to return.
For one mother, the stakes are especially high. She told the outlet her son has cerebral palsy and trouble breathing, and that she can’t bring herself to sleep in the apartment until she knows for certain it’s safe. She said she won’t go to a hospital because of the overall situation, and that management has offered no solution for her family.
Cause Investigation Leaves Next Steps Unclear
One of the property managers told WSMV that management is waiting for the fire investigation results before deciding what to do next. The Nashville Fire Department is investigating, and the cause had not been determined as of the report. Residents said management told them someone would come the morning after the fire, but no one had shown up by the time they spoke with the station…