DeKalb County

2 hospitalized in Brookhaven apartment fire

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Two people have been transported to the hospital after an apartment fire in Brookhaven, officials said.

Firefighters from the DeKalb County Fire Department are working to put out the fire on the 3000 block on Buford Highway.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach spoke to resident Jorge Beltran, who said he woke up to a roommate banging on his door.

"When I opened my door, a lot of smoke,” Beltran said. “I didn't think about anything. I had to get out, get out."

He did, but his other roommate at the Brookstone Gardens Apartments was trapped when the only door out was blocked by the fire.

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"The other one had to jump from the third floor,” Beltran said. “He jumped from the third floor. He could not get out from the front."

He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and for smoke inhalation, but should be just fine.

A second victim also suffered serious burns, but was able to make it out.

Other witnesses say they think the fire started inside an apartment on the second floor, then quickly spread up and out from the middle of the building, engulfing two other adjacent ones.

At least 12 units are destroyed and some are left with nothing.

Beltran had no time to grab his phone, wallet, even some shoes, but he's thankful he escaped with his life.

"There 5 minutes more, was going to be over," Beltran said.

Fire investigators start working to determine exactly what caused the fire