N.C. Condo Building Heavily Damaged by Fire

Nov. 27, 2012
Burlington firefighters battled a two-alarm blaze Monday night at Oakgrove Crossing at Forestdale Drive which displaced residents from 12 condominium units.

Nov. 27--Burlington firefighters battled a two-alarm blaze Monday night at Oakgrove Crossing at Forestdale Drive which displaced residents from 12 condominium units.

According to Burlington Fire Department Deputy Chief Mike Willets, 14 fire units with 31 personnel responded at 8 p.m. to 3471 Forestdale Drive and found a building on fire when they arrived on scene.

"There was heavy fire coming from the second floor at the rear of the building," Willets said. "The fire extended to the third floor and into the attic."

Willets said all of the residents in the 12 unit condo building had evacuated before fire fighters arrived at the scene. A search was still conducted in all of the units to make sure everyone had evacuated safely, said Willets. Firefighters battled the blaze for about an hour and remained on the scene at 10:30 p.m. to extinguish additional hotspots in the condo building's attic.

Willets said a firefighter sustained a minor injury to his hand and was treated at the scene. Another firefighter was taken to Alamance Regional Medical Center where he was treated for a heat related illness.

Willets said there were no residents injured during the incident. Willets said the investigation will include the Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation.

Willets said the cause and origin of the fire was still under investigation. The American Red Cross was at the scene late Monday assisting those who were displaced by the fire.

Willets said the structure damaged by the blaze was insured and each individual resident was required to have insurance on their unit's contents. Willets did not have a fire damage estimate available late Monday.

Willets said all of Burlington's five fire stations responded. During this time, fire departments from Elon, Faucette, Graham, and Haw River were on standby in case another fire broke out in the city, Willets said.

Copyright 2012 - Times-News, Burlington, N.C.

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