ATLANTA — Families are out of their homes after fire destroyed several apartments in midtown Atlanta.
Channel 2's Darryn Moore learned the flames were so intense Wednesday night that firefighters had to back off.
The fire broke out just before 11 p.m. at the Ansley Forest Apartments on Piedmont Avenue.
It took 50 firefighters to get control over the fire, which destroyed five units and damaged several others.
One neighbor said he was frightened by the flames.
“From a distance I was like whoa. I’ve never seen a fire that big,” said William Turk. “When I got a bit closer, the whole building was engulfed in flames. It’s definitely unnerving.
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“Fire was up on the third floor and it was going through the roof,” said Atlanta Fire Sgt. Cortez Stafford.
At one point crews had to back down.
“The fire was moving so rapidly and was over the top of our heads. We made a decision to back everyone out to make sure we could get a handle on the fire,” said Stafford said.
No one was hurt, and residents were out of the building before firefighters arrived. Fire investigators say an improperly disposal of a cigarette is to blame for the fire.
The American Red Cross and management are helping residents find a place to stay.