11 people displaced after flames rip through Hickory apartments

HICKORY, N.C. — Investigators are trying to figure out what started a massive fire that ripped through a Hickory apartment complex overnight.

In exclusive cell phone video obtained by Channel 9, huge, intense flames can be seen shooting from the building on Third Avenue NE, not far from Lenoir Rhyne University.

According to investigators, the fire started outside in a storage and utility building. Some people keep their washer and dryer in it -- others use it for storage.

Officials said a couple passing by spotted the flames around midnight and started banging on doors to let people know their building was on fire.

"This wonderful man who doesn't even live here happened to see it," said Beth Reinhardt, who lives in the complex. "They ran inside and ran upstairs and things were falling before the fire department got here and they were trying to get a child and mom out."

The fire damaged six units in total at the Arbor Heights Apartments, with four suffering major damage.

Reinhardt described what she saw when she came outside and saw the fire.

"I got to the front door and it looked like the sun was on our front porch, and I tried to open the door and things were already falling,” she said. “The electrical boxes were popping and everybody panicked."

Two people suffered smoke inhalation but officials said they'd be OK.

The Red Cross is helping the 11 people who were displaced by the fire.

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