Apartment fire displaces occupants

APARTMENT COMPLEX IN NORFOLK.RFIE INVESTIGATORS SAY THISALL STARTED WITH A POWER TRSIPPLUGGED INTO ANOTHER ONE.NEWS 3 REPORTER PENNY KMITJOINS US LIVE FROM WHERE THATFIRE HAPPENED -- PENNY WASANYONE HURT THERE?WELL TODD, WHILE THE DAMAGEBEHINDE M MAY LOOK SEVERE -THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT.BUT NEWS 3 AND THE NORFOLKFIRE DEPARTMENT WANT TO SEND ACLEAR MESSAGE FOLLOWING THISFIRE -- AND THAT'S ELECTRICALSAFETY -- ESPECIALLY AHEAD OFTHE HOLIDAYS.IT ALL STARTED AT ABOUT 530THIS MORNI,NG WHENINVESTIGATORS SAY A POWERSTRIP, PLUGGED INTO ANOTHERONE --OVERHEATED UNDERNEATH ABED.

THIS SPAREDK FLAMES ONTHE FIRST FLOOR OF THEBUILDING -- AND THE FIREEVENTUALLY SPREAD TO THESECOND FLOOR -- DAMAGING BOTHAPARTMENTS.

WHAT STARTED AS AMERE OVERSIGHT HAS NOWDISPLACED SEVEN PEOPLE.

NEWS 3TAKING ACTION TO MAKE SURESOMETHING LIKE THIS DOESN'THAPPEN TO YOU THIS HOLIDAYSEASON... I SPOKE WIT NH-F-DWHO TELLS ME THE BEST WAYS TOPREVENT ELECTRICAL FIRES IS TOTHROW AWAY OLD CHRISTMASLIGHTS, AND TO TURN LIGHTS OFFAT NIGHT TO PREVENT THEM FROMOVERHEATING AND CATCHING FIREWHILE YOU'RE ASLEEP.

FORFAMILI ESWITH LITTLE KIDS ORELDERLY RESIDENTS -- BE SUREBLANKETS AND STUFFED ANIMALSARE NOT SITTING BY POWERSTRIPS.

AND IF YOU HAVE A LIVETREE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON -KEEP IT AT LEAST 18 INCHSEFROM THE CEILING AND MAKE SUREIT'S WATERED.WATER YOUR TREE...WE DONTREALIZE...WHEN WE ADD HEATINGSOURCES..MAKES AIR EVENDRYER..

ELECTRIC SOURCESAROUND THEM..DOESN'T TAKE MUCHFOR THEM TO CATCH ON FIRE.OTHER ITEMS YOU SHOULD NEVERPLUG INTO A POWER STRIP --SMALL OR LARGE APPLIANCES,HAIR STYLING TOOLS, PORTALEBHEATERS, OR ANY TYPE OFEXTENSION CORD.OFFICIALS ARE STILL CHECKINGTHE APARTMENT BUILDING'SELECTRICAL LINES BEFORERESIDENTS CAN SAFELY RETURNHOME -- AND I'M TOLD THE REDCROSS IS CURRENTLY ASSISTINGTHE DISPLACED RESIDENTS.

LIVEIN NORFOLK, PK, N3.