ATLANTA,None — Residents think someone is behind a fire that broke out at a southwest Atlanta boarding house Thursday morning.
Part of Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard was shut down while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. The fire started at the front of the house around 3:30 a.m. and spread to the second floor, Atlanta firefighters said. Residents said it was arson.
“I think somebody threw a fire bomb, yes I do," resident Bill Brown said. “I was laying up in the top room up there, and I heard an explosion and when I stood up and looked out the window, a big old ball of flame came out the front here.”
Another resident, Willy Mays, said he was worried about his 85-year-old mother. Neighbors said they helped get everyone out.
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“We hollered for them. We called the fire department, make sure everyone got out," Colleen Sims said.
Firefighters said it was a tough battle.
“The fire ended up being extremely difficult to fight in the interior when we finally got crews into that second-floor bedroom where the majority of the fire was,” Atlanta Fire Chief Todd Edwards said.
He said no one was hurt, but up to eight people were displaced. The Red Cross is helping them out.
The blocked road was reopened shortly before 7 a.m.
WSBTV
