BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — Crews battled a 2-alarm fire that ripped through an apartment in Brookhaven Friday afternoon.
NewsChopper 2 was over the scene on Channel 2 Action News at Noon as flames shot from the roof at the Marq at Brookhaven.
The fire was reported at 50 Lincoln Court around 11 a.m.
The fire started in an upper floor apartment and, within a few minutes, spread up to the roof and other units.
Firefighters say at least 16 apartment units were damaged, nine of them seriously.
One resident said firefighters had a hard time battling the fire.
“The hydrants aren’t where they are supposed to be, so they’re having a hard time getting to it,” William Gittings said.
The complex was evacuated, and there were no reports of injuries.
Gittings said he dashed out of his apartment in the building next door and watched the fire grow.
“The alarm was going off, and we heard people screaming, and I wanted to find out what it was,” he said.
Greta Beasley said she got a text message at work, saying her apartment building was up in flames. She said she has renter's insurance and is trying to keep her cool about the fire damage.
“There’s nothing you can do as long as everyone is out and safe,” she said. “There’s nothing you can do. There’s no sense in being upset and everything, it’s just not.”
One resident escaped the fire with his expectant wife.
“My wife is pregnant, I took her and came out,” Sabuj Choubury said.
Choubury is in Brookhaven from India on a work assignment. He said he isn’t looking forward to assessing the damage of his apartment.
“I’m not sure of the condition of my apartment. All my passports are in there. I couldn’t get there in time to take out those thing,” he said.
Fire crews are investigating the cause of the fire.
Red Cross said it has provided assistance to 32 families.
WSBTV
