Fort Mill apartment building caught fire during Thursday’s storms, officials say

FORT MILL, S.C. — A Fort Mill apartment caught fire in the middle of Thursday’s severe storms, officials said.

Now, nearly everyone in the apartment building has been displaced, with more storms on the way. One resident told Channel 9′s Tina Terry that he is staying with a friend and has no idea when he will get back into his home.

He’s not alone. Fire officials said 24 apartment homes were inside of the building that caught fire during all the lightning.

“I just smelled smoke when I came out,” neighbor Charles Page said.

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the Palmetto Place apartments to survey the damage Friday. Fire officials are still investigating, but they said lightning may have struck the top of the building. Page said he believed lightning is to blame.

“I have reasons to believe it from the way I looked at the smoke that was on top,” he said.

Chief Meteorologist Steve Udelson gave the initial warning about the storms right before 5 p.m., and the fire started around the same time.

Firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire. They said six to eight apartments had water damage, but everyone in the building had to leave because the sprinkler system was compromised.

“It’s been kinda rough, you know. It’s hot, and I was wanting to find me a hotel room, but luckily I had some friends that I could stay with,” Page said.

Steve Nason is a disaster program manager with Red Cross and said his organization stepped in to help the people who had no where else to go.

“We’re really concerned about the temperature right now. The high today was supposed to be 96 F, so it’s something we’re really mindful of,” Nason said.

Page told Terry that he could be back in his apartment sometime next week, but he said he has not been given an exact time frame.

(WATCH BELOW: NWS to survey damage after strong storms move through Carolinas)

NWS to survey damage after strong storms move through Carolinas

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