Red Cross helps dozens forced out of Concord apartments due to fire

CONCORD, N.C. — A two-alarm fire ripped through a Concord apartment complex Tuesday, the fire department said.

It happened just before 4 p.m. at the Creekside Apartments on American Avenue Northeast.

The Concord Fire Department said 20 crews responded three minutes after they got the call.

Firefighters said they were able to control the two-alarm fire in 22 minutes.

Derrick Ravenell lived in one of the 12 units that was destroyed.

“We just heard a popping noise from around back, and the next thing I know, my whole back porch is on fire, so we just grabbed my baby,” Ravenell told Channel 9 Tuesday night.

The fire destroyed much of the building despite the fire department’s quick response.

“I (saw) the fire, seen the blaze through the back door,” Ravenell said. “The next thing I know, the whole apartment was on fire.”

Victims emerged mostly empty-handed.

“I feel terrible,” Ravenell said. “I lost everything, just the clothes on my back. My baby is one year old, just the clothes on his back. I feel terrible. We don’t have nothing. We lost everything.”

A Channel 9 crew at the scene could see where flames melted the siding and scorched a balcony on the upper floor.

“There’s significant damage throughout floor two and floor three,” said Chief Jake Williams, Concord Fire Department.

The entire building was evacuated and it’s unclear how many people were displaced.

“All the occupants that currently reside here will be receiving assistance for the night,” Williams said.

“I thank God for what they have done,” Ravenell said.

No one was hurt, a spokesperson for the City of Concord said.

“Everybody came together and we helped make sure everyone was out of the apartments, and everybody was safe,” Ravenell said.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Monday morning, the American Red Cross announced that 40 residents had been displaced due to the fire.

It will be working to provide food, shelter, and relief items to those in need.

“We are looking at about ten families, forty people. We are trying to make sure those families are taken care of. Last night, we were able to give them immediate assistance. Now we are going to move forward with what other casework would be,” said American Red Cross Executive Director Sheila Crunkleton.

To donate to those affected, visit redcross.org.

(WATCH BELOW: 1 burned in northwest Charlotte fire, MEDIC says)

1 burned in northwest Charlotte fire, MEDIC says

©2023 Cox Media Group