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Body found in senior living apartment not related to arson, police say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Investigators said a body was found in a senior living apartment complex in SouthPark Wednesday morning when firefighters were called to the building to put out a fire.

Detectives told Channel 9 the two-alarm fire at Charlotte Parktowne Terrace on Fariview Road was intentionally set.

Officials were called to the scene just after 7:30 a.m. and found smoke. They made their way to the fourth floor where they said a mattress was on fire, and quickly extinguished the flames.

Crews then discovered someone dead in a room across the hall, but police said that death was not related to the fire.

MEDIC was called to the scene but said no one was hurt from the fire.

Several tenants were evacuated and moved to an area where they had refreshments until they could return to their homes. The American Red Cross was assisting four people who were displaced.

“I looked in the hallway and didn’t see any smoke, but then I came back and I saw smoke out my window,” said one person who lives in the building. “It’s kind of scary because if it was a serious fire it could spread pretty quick I guess in a structure like this. And a lot of the people in here don’t have the mobility to get out.”

Police said the person who set the fire was cooperating with detectives and charges were pending.

The fire caused roughly $10,000 in damage.

We are still working to learn more about why someone might have set the fire and get details about the person found dead.

One lane was closed on Fairview Road as firefighters worked to get the scene under control.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.