An overnight fire at a Roswell apartment complex is now being investigated as arson, officials said.
Nineteen families, a total of 52 people, are without a home after the Thursday morning blaze at the Creekside at Holcomb Bridge Apartments on Creekside Way, the American Red Cross of Georgia said. About 25 to 30 units were affected.
Channel 2 Action News said investigators believe the fire was intentionally set in a stairwell. According to a report the news station obtained, a man got into an argument with individuals who live in the complex. Soon after, a fire started.
It quickly spread to the rest of the apartment building and was shooting through the roof when the first fire crews arrived about 12:20 a.m., Roswell fire spokesman Chief Pabel Troche said.
Cellphone video taken by a resident and shared with Channel 2 showed huge flames shooting into the air above the two-story structure. Although there was substantial damage to the building, no one was injured and no one needed to be rescued, according to Troche.
However, some residents, like Kelli Denson, had to jump from a balcony to escape.
“It happened so quick,” she told Channel 2, adding that she believes she’s still alive thanks to her neighbor, Eric McCoy.
“I helped her jump out the balcony," he said.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Fire crews were still dousing hot spots late into the morning.
Police are actively searching for a suspect, whose name and description was not released, Channel 2 reported.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
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