CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A two-alarm fire broke out in the 1100 block of Falls Creek Lane in south Charlotte early Friday morning.
According to Charlotte Fire, the blaze at the Timber Creek Apartments started around 1 a.m. in an apartment on the second story of the complex.
Fire alarms went off and firefighters knocked on doors in order to ensure everyone safely evacuated. As the evacuation alarms sounded, residents rushed outside to safety.
The fire was so large that flames burst through the roof.
“They’re always tough, always," said Susan Smith with the Greater Carolinas Region of the Red Cross. "But holidays just seem to make them even more tragic. And I think with everything going on with COVID and all the things everyone is dealing with, it’s very difficult."
The Red Cross is helping get families to a safe place now and then guiding them through recovery. Not only to new housing but mentally after experiencing this type of loss.
"Our emotional care and spiritual folks, they're so good with the kids because you don't know what’s going to affect them later," Smith said. "They might have nightmares, they might start acting out and the parents or caretakers won’t always pick up on that. So we'll connect with them for as long as we need to."
It took more than 40 firefighters an hour to extinguish the fire.
Luckily, no injuries were reported.
Sixteen units were impacted by the blaze. According to Charlotte Fire, the Red Cross is assisting 15 families which include 24 adults, eight kids, and pets that were displaced due to the fire.
CFD Investigators believe the fire originated in the attic and deemed the fire accidental. The estimated property loss was around $420 thousand.
The fire remains under investigation.