CHESAPEAKE, Va. — An apartment fire at Great Bridge Apartments on Edna Street in Chesapeake last week damaged eight units and left 14 people without homes just days before Thanksgiving. Among the chaos and pain, the displaced residents are finding strength in community support, and leaning on each other for hope.
News 3 was at the fiery scene on November 14 when Ryan Smiley and his wife, along with 12 of their neighbors, came home from work that afternoon to see their apartments up in flames. Chesapeake Fire Department investigators say the cause of the fire is undetermined. All 14 neighbors and their pets made it out safely, though one neighbor suffered a heart attack during the fire and was hospitalized. Smiley says that neighbor is doing much better now and is no longer in the hospital.
“I found my wife’s wedding dress on our bed, just piled a bunch of clothing. And, thankful that, while we may not have that, we still have each other,” Smiley said…