PINEVILLE, N.C. — Pineville Fire Department, Charlotte Fire Department and other fire agencies had to put out a massive two-alarm fire at an apartment complex in Pineville Thursday.
Firefighters were called to the Willow Ridge Apartments on Willow Ridge Drive, near CMC-Pineville, just before noon and arrived to smoke and flames billowing out of the building.
Smoke and flames pouring out of building @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/rYz46wSrCX
— Elsa Gillis (@ElsaWSOC9) December 29, 2016
Apartment resident Christine Jordan told Channel 9 that the entire ordeal was terrifying.
"(I) went out on the porch and that's when I saw black smoke coming from the bedroom next door so I yelled at my husband because he was asleep," Jordan said. "I was grabbing my coat, my dog and I went out to get my purse and that's it."
Firefighter rehydrate after apt fire in Pineville NC. Where many residents had to be displaced. pic.twitter.com/X3oTrulJ6v
— Garry Stanley (@garryWSOC9) December 29, 2016
MEDIC said everyone managed to get out of the building safely and none of the residents were hurt.
More than 40 responders were called to the scene and two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.
Pineville FD just told me two FF treated at CMC Pineville following large apartment fire now home and okay. @wsoctv
— Alexa Ashwell (@AlexaAshwell) December 30, 2016
Chopper 9 flew overhead as fire engulfed the apartment complex and firefighters battled to get the intense flames under control. At one point a burning gutter collapsed to the ground, narrowly missing a firefighter.
Watch as a gutter collapses, barely missing a firefighter
Fire officials said at least eight units were damaged, and that the fire forced 14 families -- 35 people total -- to be displaced.
Steve Nason is with The Red Cross and spent Thursday night with those families, helping them with immediate needs like food, toiletries and a place to stay.
“This one is a little bit bigger than anything we've seen,” Nason said.
The cause of the fire hasn't been determined.
Watch our Chopper 9 live stream of the fire:
BREAKING WATCH LIVE: Chopper 9 over a massive apartment fire in Pineville. This is at the Willow Ridge Apartments on Willow Ridge Drive. MEDIC reports everyone is out of the building, no patients. Eyewitness News reporter Elsa Gillis is on the ground, gathering more information and asking if anyone is hurt. http://on.wsoctv.com/2hwvLAW
Posted by WSOC-TV on Thursday, December 29, 2016
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