‘It was scary’: Early morning fire guts several apartments in east Charlotte

CHARLOTTE — Crews are investigating after dozens of firefighters were called to the scene of a large apartment fire in east Charlotte early Friday.

More than 50 firefighters were called just before 4 a.m. to the Coventry Woods Apartments on Coronado Drive, just off North Sharon Amity Road.

The Charlotte Fire Department said that when the first firefighters arrived, they could see heavy flames and smoke coming from the 2-story apartments building and upgraded their response to a second alarm, which brought more crews to help fight the blaze.

Channel 9 reporter Gina Esposito got the scene a short time later and could see extensive damage to several units, with part of the roof collapsed.

“It was 4:30 that I heard a gentlemen, I walked outside and it was billowing,” said resident Kendra Grub. “I was scared. It was really scary.”

The fire department said at least six units were damaged in the fire but that nobody had to be rescued.

Paramedics said they treated one person at the scene but that they did not have to go to the hospital.

Video that a neighbor shared with Channel 9 showed an orange ball of fire engulfing the building.

James Littlejohn’s apartment was one of the six destroyed in the fire. He said he’s grateful for the firefighters who responded so quickly.

“Both smoke and fire trying to come in the back door which is this one here, I saw. I tried a window but it didn’t, I couldn’t. Fire was trying to enter into the living room so I was trying to close the door and tried to get out with my life,” he said.

Littlejohn also said one of the firefighters was kind enough to give him an outfit to wear, and others managed to salvage his beloved typewriter.

It is still unclear what may have sparked the fire but investigators planned to be at the scene throughout the day.

They estimated the damage amount to be $425,000.

North Sharon Amity Road was temporarily closed between Albemarle Road and Independence Boulevard.

The American Red Cross was helping families that had been displaced.

Friday wasn’t the first time Channel 9 covered a major fire at this apartment complex. Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over another fire at Coventry Woods in March 2019.

“It was two and half years ago this building burned, I heard. We just moved in 3 months ago,” Grub said.

Several neighbors said the fires have them concerned. Esposito took their concerns to the property management company, but it did not want to comment.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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