8 injured, 4 hospitalized after fire at Decatur apartment complex

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A fire at an apartment complex in Decatur left eight people injured and four hospitalized early Saturday morning.

DeKalb County police responded to a fire at Columbia Woods Drive after reports that people were trapped.

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Crews found people jumping from the second story of the building.

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The fire involved 24 units.

Firefighters rescued two people from the second floor.

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Eight people were treated at the scene and four were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Channel 2′s Kristen Holloway talked to residents who said people barely managed to escape.

Johnny Hill said he’s still in shock.

“Everything I own is right here on my back,” Hill said.

Hill said he was just just about to get in bed when someone knocked on his door and told him to get out.

“I ran back to the back bedroom, I had to run past flames because they were coming in through my bedroom window,” Hill said. “The fire spread so quick. I mean it was fast.”

Hill said he and his fiance made it out, but it was like watching something out of a horror movie.

“One guy jumped out the window and broke his back,” Hill said. “Another one hurt his leg. Then there was a mother and daughter they had to save on the second story.”

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the blaze.

At least 36 people have been displaced. The Red Cross is working to assist the victims.

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