Carroll County

Video shows roof ripping off fire station during storm

CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. — Dramatic video shows an apparent tornado rip the concrete roof off a fire station in Carroll County.

“I just saw the trees were bending like crazy,” West Georgia College student Kellyn Quillian said.

That’s when Quillian grabbed her cellphone and pointed it toward the fire station. She couldn't believe her eyes.

“All of a sudden, the roof is coming off the fire station,” Quillian said. “I can't believe I got it at just the right time. It was terrifying. I was so scared."

After slamming into the fire station, the apparent tornado scraped a student housing apartment complex, tearing off siding and shattering windows.

TRENDING STORIES:

“I was just sitting in my room and I looked out the window and I saw this big swirling tornado coming through, and I turned my back and my window busted out,” student Jaqueline Vacarro said. “It was frightening. It was really scary. I just ran down the steps and grabbed my roommates.”

The suspected twister tore down trees in its path before peeling the roof off the fire station, with three firefighters inside. That was around 11 a.m.

Download the FREE Severe Weather Team 2 Weather App

Weather App

“They just heard awful noises. The building was falling down. And it blew the kitchen windows out,” Fire Chief Jimmy Beardon said.

As the high winds tore off the roof, a large concrete wall on one side of the firehouse also fell down.

“It was just a real shock to them,” Beardon said. “They came outside and saw all of the destruction."

Luckily, Channel 2's Tom Regan reports, no one was hurt.

The chief told Regan they're in the process of trying to determine if the fire station can be salvaged.