10 Families Displaced at GA Apartment Fire

Ten families have lost their homes in the aftermath of a serious blaze that raged for hours Tuesday at an apartment complex in DeKalb County.

The fire was reported at 2:23 p.m. at the Wesley Providence apartment complex at the corner of Klondike and Hayden Quarry roads in Stonecrest, officials said. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke coming from a second-story balcony and flames stretching from the roof line, DeKalb County fire spokesman Capt. Jaeson Daniels told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an email Tuesday.

DeKalb firefighters worked into the night to extinguish some remaining hot spots, according to Daniels. Photos from the scene at the height of the fire showed a fire truck's boom hose spraying the flames four stories in the air.

Officials said the fire was so intense that rescue crews could not enter the building for several hours. Video footage showed flames leaping from the roof and a huge plume of black smoke billowing from the structure.

A second alarm was activated, and crews were forced to go into a defensive posture to isolate the flames, Daniels said.

As of Tuesday night, Daniels said all occupants have been accounted for through the apartment complex's leasing office. Crews were able to rescue two cats and a dog from the building before it was deemed unsafe to enter, he said.

No injuries have been reported. Crews remained on scene Tuesday night to douse any hot spots.

The fire damaged 28 individual apartment units, according to Red Cross spokeswoman Sherry Nicholson. At least 10 families have been displaced, but Nicholson said the total number of people affected is not yet known. The Red Cross will provide temporary lodging and other essentials to those families, including anyone who already had made arrangements Tuesday but might need assistance later.

The blaze remains under investigation. Investigators do not believe it will be possible to determine the cause of the fire due to its intensity.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

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