CLEVELAND, Ohio — On Monday, the Garden Valley neighborhood in Cleveland turned into a hellish scene when a powerful explosion at the Rainbow Terrace apartment complex at the intersection of East 70th Street and Garden Valley Avenue caused a devastating fire that destroyed 44 apartments, left between 120 and 150 residents homeless, and sent five people to the hospital. Damage estimated at $3.5 million was only part of the tragedy unfolding in one of the city's poorest areas, exposing its infrastructure vulnerabilities and the struggles of its residents. While investigators attempt to determine the cause of the explosion, the community mourns its losses, and stories of heroism and despair intertwine amid the ruined walls.
"It was like an earthquake, and then the flames just consumed everything," recalls Kwille Williams, a local resident who heard the loud blast at 4:15 p.m. and then saw flames engulfing several apartments. Cleveland Fire Department, deploying 22 units and over 60 firefighters, faced a chaotic scene: shattered windows, a burning roof, and residents desperately trying to escape. One woman, trapped on the third floor, handed her child down to neighbors below before she was rescued by Engine 41 crew. Another resident tied bedsheets together to climb down a window, avoiding the flames. "It was a life-and-death situation," said Lieutenant Mike Norman, a Cleveland Fire Department spokesperson, describing the dramatic rescues.
Five people—33-year-old man in critical condition, a 39-year-old man, 10- and 11-year-old children in serious condition, and a 38-year-old woman in stable condition—were transported to MetroHealth Medical Center. Two others with minor injuries later visited University Hospitals. According to Cleveland EMS, among the hospitalized are children whose conditions are of particular concern. "We don't yet know the full extent of their injuries, but it's serious," Norman stated.
For residents like Jania Williams, who recently found refuge in Rainbow Terrace with her son after a period of homelessness, the fire was a devastating blow. "It was my escape, my chance for a new beginning," she said, standing near the destroyed building. "And now everything is burned." Her friend, Darnella Garner, who called her from the zoo to inform her of the tragedy, added: "Seeing the flames erupting from the roof was like the end of the world."
The cause of the explosion remains a mystery, but insider sources at Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) report that several residents complained about a gas odor three days before the incident. One resident, who has lived in the complex for 10 years, claims she reported the problem, but the inspection announced in notices did not reach everyone. "Some received the notice, and others did not," she said, expressing frustration with the housing management. On Tuesday, investigators, along with Enbridge Gas Co., revisited the site to examine gas lines, but no official conclusions have been made yet.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, responding to the tragedy, promised full support for those affected. "Our hearts are with those who lost their homes and suffered injuries," he said Monday evening. "The city is working with partners to provide necessary assistance." The American Red Cross promptly opened a temporary shelter at Zelma George Recreation Center located at 3155 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, which has already served dozens of families. CMHA, according to council member Richard Starr, is also cooperating with local organizations to find housing for 120–150 displaced persons. A donation collection site for clothing, shoes, diapers, and hygiene products is open at the Garden Valley Apartments office at 7310 Carson Ave.
This disaster was another blow for Garden Valley, a neighborhood already battling economic inequality and aging infrastructure. According to the 2020 census, the average household income here is only $22,000, and the poverty rate exceeds 40%. Historically, the area has suffered similar tragedies: in 1944, the East Ohio Gas Company explosion on Cleveland’s east side claimed 131 lives and destroyed an entire block, leaving unhealed scars. Today’s event raises alarming parallels, fueling calls for modernization of gas infrastructure and increased oversight of multi-story buildings.
Firefighters, who rescued two dogs, a cat, and even a turtle, demonstrate heroism: the cat was taken to West Park Animal Hospital, and four turtles, two cats, a dog, and a lizard were rescued alive. But for many Rainbow Terrace residents, salvation came too late. "We heard a loud explosion, and then everything caught fire," recounts local resident Marcus Johnson. "People were running, shouting—like in a horror movie."
As the community recovers and investigators seek answers, Cleveland faces a bigger question: how to protect its vulnerable neighborhoods from similar disasters? The answer may lie in investing in safe infrastructure and supporting those who have lost everything. But for now, Garden Valley mourns the lost, relying on solidarity and hope for rebuilding.
