Local

Apartment fire near UNCC displaces 48

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fire officials told Channel 9 UNC Charlotte students who live in an off campus apartment housing unit that caught fire early Saturday will have to wait to go back into their homes until the investigation is complete.

The Charlotte Fire Department was called to the Edge Apartment complex on Campus Edge Circle just after 2 a.m. Saturday. 

The fire displaced 48 people.

A UNCC student captured dramatic video of the fire and shared it with Channel 9.

It shows students frantically knocking on doors and trying to wake up people who were still asleep inside their homes when the fire ignited.

"This guy came banging on our door," said Nate Brown, who lived on the first floor of the building that caught fire. "When I opened the door I saw this huge glow. We ran across the street and just watched as the building burned."

Channel 9 talked with Brown as he and other students waited, some with their parents, on word from management if they would be allowed back into their apartments to retrieve some belongings. 

But fire officials said it was too dangerous to go into the building and also said they were still investigating what caused the fire as of Saturday evening.

The American Red Cross stepped in to help provide food, shelter and clothing to anyone who needs them.

The investigation is ongoing.