Seminole County officials have evacuated 72 units at the Pebble Creek at Lake Mary apartment complex after a fire incident revealed broader “life safety concerns” at the 472-unit development located at 780 Creekwater Terrace in unincorporated Seminole County. The evacuation order came after a February 27 fire during stairwell repair work led to the discovery of multiple safety deficiencies throughout the complex. Of the 72 units deemed unsafe for occupancy, 48 units were already unoccupied at the time of the evacuation order.
“The incident caused smoke to impact multiple units and required Seminole County Fire Department crews to open parts of the building to ensure the fire had not spread,” county officials said in a statement. The fire started when materials inside a wall caught fire during routine stairwell repair work, prompting an immediate response from Seminole County Fire Department crews who had to breach parts of the building structure to fully extinguish the blaze and verify it had not spread to other areas.
“A follow-up review raised broader safety concerns about the building,” county officials said, noting that the initial fire incident triggered a comprehensive safety assessment of the entire complex. County Building and Code Enforcement Divisions conducted the follow-up review that identified the extensive safety violations. “Deficiencies were further identified related to egress and overall life safety, including stairwell conditions and other structural elements,” according to county officials.
The Pebble Creek complex spans 28 buildings with 472 total units, making it one of the larger residential developments in unincorporated Seminole County. Florida building codes require multiple egress routes and specific structural safety standards for multi-story residential complexes, regulations that became more stringent following high-profile building incidents in recent years. The discovery of stairwell deficiencies is particularly concerning as these structures serve as primary evacuation routes during emergencies.
“Emergency Management and the Red Cross were on site to help residents with immediate needs and coordinate support services,” Seminole County announced. The coordinated response between county emergency management and the American Red Cross reflects standard protocols for large-scale residential evacuations in Florida. Many displaced residents have been able to relocate to other available units within the same complex, reducing the immediate housing crisis for affected families.
The evacuation affects approximately 24 occupied units, as 48 of the 72 condemned units were already vacant when the safety order was issued. This suggests the complex may have been experiencing occupancy challenges prior to the safety concerns being identified. The relatively high vacancy rate of over 10 percent at the time of the evacuation could indicate previous resident concerns or ongoing maintenance issues at the property.
Seminole County’s swift action follows established protocols for addressing life safety violations in residential complexes, particularly those involving egress deficiencies that could trap residents during emergencies. The county’s Building and Code Enforcement Divisions will need to conduct comprehensive inspections and approve all necessary repairs before any of the 72 units can be reoccupied. Property management will be required to address all identified deficiencies, including stairwell structural issues and egress problems, before residents can return to their homes.
The timeline for repairs and re-occupancy remains unclear as county officials continue their comprehensive safety review of the entire 28-building complex.