Fire at Kissimmee Apartment Destroys Building

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on March 23, 2018

A massive fire ripped through an apartment building in Osceola County last Wednesday, causing thousands of dollars worth of pottery damage and rendering over one dozen people temporarily homeless. The official report states that the fire, which was first reported around 11:30 in the morning, happened in an apartment building located at 1459 Dorado Drive in Kissimmee. The apartment building housed eight units, all of which were gutted by the flames.

The Kissimmee Police Department told reporters that, while no one was injured in the fire, all of the residents of this particular apartment building will need to find new homes since there is no way that any of the units in the burned out building will be restored.

The apartment building is one of a number of such buildings belonging to to the Goldelm at Valencian Apartments in Kissimmee. Troublingly, this is the second such fire since last October that has taken place at this particular complex. Residents who spoke to reporters say that the fire from last week looked similar to the one from several months ago, and that they are becoming increasingly concerned that their own buildings will be next.

Jim Walls, the Fire Chief for the Kissimmee Fire Department, went on the record to state that the initial investigation seems to indicate that the two fires were not started in the same manner, but the chief’s words may not manage to comfort all of the residents of Goldelm at Valencian. Certain people living in other Valencian units told reporters that they felt the management team, believed to be the Michaelson Real Estate Group, does not respond to complaints. Residents spoke of work orders that are either ignored or unsatisfactorily filled, and a general sense of disregard from the Michaelson Real Estate Group towards the wellbeing of those living at Goldelm at Valencian.

Members of the Orange County Hazmat team arrived to clean up the fire and reported noticing a strong chemical smell from the ashes. While this could potentially point to a cause, Chief Walls told reporters that he does not currently believe the reason or reasons for the blaze are unduly suspicious.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.