8 families displaced after fire at apartment complex

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Fire Department responded to an apartment fire in the 5700 block of Electra Lane.

The fire was reported just after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Medic officials said no one was injured.

Robert Graves said he tried to fight the fire himself, but ran into a big problem.

"Somebody stole the fire extinguishers yesterday and I tried to use it and it wasn't working so I couldn't put nothing out the wind just took it," Graves said Tuesday.

Eyewitness News asked Charlotte Fire officials about the claim that the fire extinguisher wasn't working

"That's part of our annual inspection process we'll be looking into inspection records and making sure property managers bring things up to speed," said Deputy Fire Chief Rob Kinniburgh.

One man said he and his wife were sound asleep when neighbors banged on his door and told them their apartment was on fire.

Chopper 9 flew over the Ashley Place apartments just before 3 p.m. to see firefighters put out the flames.

Flames were shooting 20 feet through the roof of the second floor apartments.

Within minutes, fire crews were able to get the two-alarm fire under control.

Robert Graves lives in the home where the fire started. He's thankful he made it out alive.

"My neighbor woke me up (and) said the house was on fire, ran in the kitchen, the stove was on fire," he said.

Fire officials believe the fire started in the kitchen. Red Cross officials said at least eight families were affected.

To see more Chopper video and slideshows, click here.

WSOC