Carol M. Highsmith | Martain Luther King, Jr., Federal Building, Atlanta, Georgia | https://picryl.com/media/martin-luther-king-jr-federal-building-atlanta-georgia-1 | Public Domain Creative Commons License | https://picryl.com/media
At the Reserve at LaVista Walk in Atlanta hundreds watched their homes burn for hours on November 10, 2023. Attorneys with the Dean Thaxton law firm claimed that the building had a damaged fire suppression system and that property owners prioritized profit over safety. According to a December 2022 fire inspection report the Atlanata Fire Rescue Department did not find the complex to be out of code.
The fire started when two people set off fireworks on the roof of the building. Fire Chief Rod Smith described the blaze as a complete anomaly because it started on the roof which may have delayed the alarm and sprinkler systems. Dean said the property had several issues with the fire suppression system including broken control valves and corroded sprinkler heads.
The fire burned overnight and most of the day on Nov 11 and required more than 80 firefighters. All of the residents were able to evacuate but 17 people were treated for smoke inhalationa and various minor injuries.