ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A massive apartment fire, determined to be accidental and caused by smoking materials, erupted Saturday evening at an apartment complex on Julian Road in Rowan County, displacing nearly 60 people from their homes.
More than 20 units at The Grand on Julian apartment complex were either destroyed or damaged in the blaze, leaving residents without most of their belongings.
The Rowan County Fire Marshal officially ruled the fire accidental and caused by smoking materials.
The community has initiated efforts to provide assistance to the affected residents.
[ READ MORE >> 59 residents displaced following four-alarm fire at Rowan County apartment complex ]
Ashley Ulino and her 9-month-old daughter Ellie were at the pool at The Grand on Julian when the fire began. Ulino recounted the chaotic scene as the fire spread through the building.
“I heard this explosion. I see black smoke coming from the top of the building, and I run out here, and I see people jumping from the third floor,” Ulino said.
Ulino and her family lived on the first floor of the affected building. She described the profound loss her family experienced.
“All of our furniture is gone, stuff from my baby shower, stuff that we had saved for my daughter. Our memories are gone. Things that we’ve cherished are gone. We just grabbed essentials when we went back in,” Ulino said.
Community volunteer Andrea Owen is among many people gathering donations for the displaced residents.
“I just felt like God telling me, ‘You need to go. So I made my way over here,” Owen said.
Owen explained her motivation for helping. “I’ve received so many text messages of people being like, ‘Where can I drop off clothes? What do you need? So it’s been great. Our community and God has carried us through,’” Owen said.
So far, nearly $10,000 has been raised to support the affected families. However, significant additional funds are needed to help house and clothe nearly 60 people.
Rowan County Emergency Services advised that gift cards or GoFundMe campaigns are the most effective ways to help at this time, as many families lack a place to store physical donations.
Ulino noted that many displaced families are running out of money to pay for hotel stays, especially since they had recently paid June’s rent just days before the fire. The community’s support has been a source of strength for Ulino.
The Rowan County Fire Marshal stated that the people impacted by the fire will be without a home for a long time, and efforts are continuing to provide them with assistance.
VIDEO: Multiple crews respond to four-alarm apartment fire in Rowan County
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