Fire at vacant Atlanta apartment complex has homeowners concerned

ATLANTA — Neighbors in Southeast Atlanta are speaking out after a massive fire on a vacant property came dangerously close to nearby homes.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

A cloud of smoke could be seen for several miles Tuesday evening. Atlanta firefighters worked to put out the flames that were consuming the Forest Cove Apartment Complex on Thomasville Road. It’s still unclear how the fire started in one of the units since the complex is vacant and boarded up.

“It engulfed the neighborhood yesterday,” said neighbor Larry Buchanan. “Today is a lot better than it was yesterday.”

TRENDING STORIES:

• 14 charged in prostitution sting in Coweta County
• Georgia expands rules that ban some wild animals as pets
• Georgia Supreme Court reinstates ban on abortions after 6 weeks

This comes nearly a month after tenants were forced to relocate because of ongoing safety issues and health hazards. The City of Atlanta spent $9.1 million to find safe housing for everyone who was living there. The property is privately owned by The Millenia Company, which has plans to repay the city for the relocation costs.

Company officials sent a statement to Channel 2 Wednesday afternoon saying:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

“The damage caused by the fire will be assessed; however, the plans to rehabilitate Forest Cove remain the same.”

It’s unclear when the rehabilitation project will begin, but neighbors say it can’t come soon enough.

“It looks horrible now, and when I got here a couple of years ago, it looked horrible then,” said Buchanan.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Cobb County Board of Elections re-certified election results after uncounted ballots found

©2022 Cox Media Group