Investigators: Fire that spread to several homes, displaced 2 families started in garage

CONCORD, N.C. — The Concord Fire Department responded to a fire that damaged five homes in Highland Creek Monday morning.

Officials said two families were displaced after the fire on Wilburn Park Lane.

Investigators with the Concord Fire Marshall's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Office of the State Fire Marshall's Office determined the fire began in the garage of the first home.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined.

Neighbors Andrew Jones and his wife were inside their home Monday morning when they heard sirens and their dogs howling on the back porch.

"Looked over the fence and the one that we could see was fully engulfed and it was my best estimate 20-30 feet of flames were comming off the roof of the house," Jones said.

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the homes around 12 p.m. and saw the severe damage.

It took four fire departments about an hour to get the fire under control. The fire departments involved were Concord, O'Dell, Kannapolis, and Harrisburg.

Officials said they did a thorough search of all the homes and found no one inside.

Jones said although the damage is devastating, he is breathing a sigh of relief that his neighbors are safe.

"I'm sure that family has memories and heirlooms and things like that, but when it comes down to loss of life is more important than things," Jones said.

The Red Cross has been called in to help the families impacted.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

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