Resident found dead inside charred Cobb apartment; 39 people displaced

A man was found dead Monday in a fire at a Cobb County apartment complex, officials said.

Large plumes of smoke were seen billowing from at least one of the three-story buildings at the Hamptons at East Cobb. When crews were called to the gated community along Roswell Road at about 10:50 a.m., heavy fire was showing at the front of the building and through the roof, Cobb fire spokesman Ramses Rivas said.

During the investigation, Rivas said firefighters located a resident dead inside one of the units. The victim was later identified as 74-year-old Thomas Alexander by Cobb police.

At least 29 apartments were damaged by the blaze and 39 residents were displaced, Rivas said. The fire department is working with the Red Cross to help those in need of housing assistance.

Destroyed apartments can be seen from NewsChopper 2 as crews worked to put out the blaze at an apartment complex off Roswell Road in Cobb County.

Rivas did not say what caused the fire.