20 residents displaced in three-alarm south Charlotte apartment fire

CHARLOTTE — Firefighters battled a three-alarm apartment fire that sent families running for safety in south Charlotte Thursday morning.

It started just before 3 a.m. on Sycamore Creek Drive, off Arrowood Road.

“We tried to run as fast as we can, and all this building was in flames,” one neighbor said. “It was just totally on fire.”

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The fire department says it took 75 firefighters less than an hour to get it under control.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials on a second-floor balcony, causing nearly $1.6 million in damages.

Charlotte Fire says no one was hurt, but 12 apartment units were affected, and 20 residents were displaced.

For many families, the loss is overwhelming. Thankfully, the American Red Cross arrived before sunrise, working through the day to lighten the load as families figure out what comes next.

“An event like this is usually the worst moment of somebody’s life, and they don’t know what to think or do next,” Jason Gudzunas, with the American Red Cross, said. “We make sure they have a warm, safe place to stay tonight — food, shelter, and we work closely with the landlord to see if there are any available units they can go into."

Charlotte Fire reminds the community of the importance of properly putting out and disposing of smoking materials. The department says cigarettes and other smoking products should never be discarded in planters, mulch beds or on balconies. Instead, use a deep, sturdy container filled with sand or water to be safe.

VIDEO: Charlotte apartment fire displaces 16, no injuries reported