12 kids among displaced in DeKalb apartment fire

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Twelve children and 23 adults have to find a new place to live after fire destroyed four units in their apartment complex in DeKalb.

Firefighters worked throughout the evening Saturday to control hot spots and try to determine a cause of the fire at the Villas of Embry Hills Apartments on Chamblee-Tucker Road.

Resident Ryky Medrano said he started shooting cellphone video as soon as he realized an apartment building had burst into flames. He told Channel 2’s Liz Artz that he witnessed flames and smoke.

DeKalb County firefighters rushed to the complex to find the flames shooting from one unit. Fire quickly consumed three neighboring units. It took two trucks and four engines to get the fire out.  DeKalb County Fire Capt. Vera Morrison said the first engine to arrive had 500 gallons of water and crews used that to get the fire under control.

First responders could not locate a hydrant on the property. Crews eventually pulled nearly 1,000 feet of hose to Chamblee-Tucker Road to the closest hydrant.

It was Greisy Hernandez's apartment that caught fire. She was at work with her dad at the time. She said she was just happy that no one was hurt.
The fire effected 12 units; power and water to the building had to be cut off.

The American Red Cross worked in to the night helping the 35 people who now don't have a place to live.

Firefighters said the fire was put out within two to five minutes and told Artz there were no problems with the hydrants. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but could have been the caused by an electrical issue.

WSBTV