Families displaced after early-morning apartment fire

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The American Red Cross is assisting seven families who were displaced after a 3-alarm apartment fire in Charlotte. The fire started after 3 a.m. Sunday on Tremaine Court, near Albemarle Road in East Charlotte.

When the Charlotte Fire Department arrived on scene, they found a two-story condominium with flames that were visible through the roof. It took 64 firefighters a total of 38 minutes to extinguish the fire completely.

CFD credits Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers with rescuing a female who was trapped on the second floor.

According to CFD intense fire and smoke conditions blocked the woman’s exit, so she broke her window to escape. Two CMPD officers on the ground below convinced the woman to drop into their arms.

CFD removed three dogs from the building and reunited them with their owners.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The initial damage is estimated at $300,000.

WSOC