Local

Fire guts apartment, leaving 44 people displaced

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Forty-four people turned to the Red Cross for help Thursday after a fire destroyed their homes at a south Fulton County apartment complex.

The fire at The Summit apartments in the 6300 block of Oakley Road in Union City happened around 5:15 p.m. and crews did not clear the scene until just after 9:40 p.m., Union City Fire Department Battalion Chief Dennis Moore said.

The displaced residents represent nine families, according to Red Cross spokeswoman Sherry Nicholson.

Channel 2's Lauren Pozen spoke with a father who quickly acted to get his son out of danger.

"I smelled smoke, and I immediately start to look around. I smell it, and then I open the door, and ‘Woosh,' smoke comes in the house," Robert Brown said.

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Brown said he panicked.

"I see people, so I yell, ‘Hey!' Grab my son. I drop my son out the window, then I jump out the window and then I come around and the whole building is on fire," he said.

Both he and his son made it out safely.

Fire investigators said the fire was accidental, started by kids playing with fire in an apartment unit.

Brown said he's just happy no one was hurt.

"It was to the point where I was almost thought I was about to lose my life," he said.