Multiple families displaced after Hughes Springs apartment fire

Several families lost everything just days before Christmas when an apartment fire ravaged a unit at Patman Switch Apartments in Hughes Springs. Eight units were destroyed in the blaze, displacing eight families in the middle of the holiday season.

At approximately 5 a.m. the morning of Dec. 22, fire crews were dispatched to South Pecan Street, where a small fire quickly grew to a roaring blaze, according to Hughes Springs Fire Chief Jay Cates.

“When the first officer got here it was a smaller fire, then hit the attic and spread very quickly,” said Chief Cates.

Units from Daingerfield, Linden, Avinger and Crossroads pitched in with Hughes Springs.

“When we rolled up it was fully involved. And we’re just very fortunate that everybody got out. Nobody injured, nobody lost their lives today,” said firefighter Robert Fritts, of the Crossroads Cornett VFD.

“It was engulfed, fully engulfed. And there was no making entry,” said firefighter Morgan Fritts.

According to Cates, The Red Cross was assisting the families later Dec. 22. But as of press time, there was no definitive cause for the blaze.

“Red Cross has already come and taken care of the families that were displaced. We’re not sure about the point of origin, right now the state fire marshal’s office is investigating,” Cates says.

As word spread through social media of the blaze, Hughes Springs and the surrounding communities jumped in to assist the families affected. By late afternoon, donation centers at several area churches were full of clothes for the affected families.

Seeing firsthand that the families lost everything they owned, including Christmas presents, firefighters took it upon themselves to help.

“Several members of the community have reached out to us, and we are going to be taking donations. We will gather all the donations on Friday and they’ll be dropped off on Saturday. It doesn’t matter what’s under the tree, it matters who’s around the tree,” Morgan said.

“We have an amazing community. We didn’t even have the fire all the way out yet before they we’re asking where can we donate. We have to make sure the kids have Christmas. We got so many donations we actually had to say ‘hey we’re good on clothes,” Morgan said the day of the blaze.

On Christmas Day, firefighters were able to make Christmas a little brighter for those affected, as the families’ children were given presents at the Hughes Springs fire department.

“It was a blessing to be there and see the kids get the gifts that the community donated. We also brought our two boys with us to show them what it’s like to lose everything and this is what we’re giving back to them,” says Robert.

Firefighters come to the rescue once again.

“It’s a different feeling being there as a firefighter, but as a person that cares. If someone is in need, we’re going to fulfill that need,” Morgan says.