Electrical malfunction sparks 2-alarm fire at south Charlotte apartments, investigators say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Investigators have determined an electrical malfunction caused a two-alarm fire to break out at a south Charlotte apartment complex Monday afternoon.

The Charlotte Fire Department responded around 3 p.m. to the Highland Apartments along Archdale Drive, not far from Interstate 77.

It took more than 50 firefighters nearly an hour to control the flames.

No injuries were reported and officials said everyone got out on their own, but a family’s cat was rescued.

Chopper 9 flew over the apartments and could see huge flames shooting from the roof.

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Crews battle 2-alarm fire at south Charlotte apartments (WSOC)

Channel 9′s Elsa Gillis spoke with a resident who said she was at school when the fire broke out and got a call from her mother. She rushed back and watched her home go up in flames.

“Terrible, because you don’t know what’s the next move. You don’t know where you’re going to go now,” Divane Paez said.

Investigators determined the fire started because of an electrical malfunction in the attic space and it caused around $126,000 in damages.

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