Local

Family of 6 escapes burning home in west Charlotte overnight

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Firefighters had to battle an intense house fire that left a family of six displaced in west Charlotte early Wednesday morning.

Fire crews were called to the home on Darby Avenue, near Interstate 85 and Brookshire Boulevard, around 4:15 a.m. and when they arrived they saw heavy flames shooting from the roof of the structure.

Officials said that two adults, four children and three dogs all lived in the home and made it out safely.

Channel 9 spoke with the father, James Enley, who said he had lived in the house for 25 years.

He said he heard a loud boom then smelled smoke.

“I came outside, seen orange flames, orange glow out the side of the house, then ran back in and got them up,” Enley told Channel 9. "(The flames) were about 8-10 feet above the roof, and you could actually see part of the roof buckle, where it was so hot.”

The Red Cross was called to help the family.

Crews said the fire started in the attic but it was still unknown how.

Channel 9 reporter Gina Esposito had live updates on Eyewitness News Daybreak; be sure to follow her on Twitter.

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