Fire investigators say fireplace ashes sparked an afternoon apartment fire that forced several people out of their homes.
Firefighters were called to the “Enclave at Crossroads” apartments after 11 a.m. The first crews on scene reported smoke and fire pouring from the roof.
More than 60 firefighters worked about 40 minutes to put the flames out. Jones Franklin Road was closed while firefighters battled the blaze Wednesday.
Firefighters say two apartments were damaged by fire and four others had water damage. The building did not have sprinklers. Captain Bill Bristle with the Raleigh Fire Department says sprinklers would have helped keep the fire in check before crews were able to arrive on scene. Raleigh fire code started requiring sprinkler systems in new homes in 2010.
Firefighters threw out most of what's left in a burned out apartment, including the sofa that Erin Grogan was sitting on. She was in her boyfriend's apartment when the fire started, "I heard popping noises so I got up from the couch and looked around and next thing you know, the whole porch was engulfed in flames."
"I really don't know what to think," said Scott Denny. He and his brother lived in the apartment that was damaged the most, on the second floor. He wondered if he accidentally started the fire with fireplace ashes.
"There's a fireplace inside and we'd been burning a fire. The ashes that were out there were from last night," said Denny.
Raleigh Fire investigators confirm the fire was an accident and it started from a cardboard box full of fireplace ashes left on a balcony. It actually started outside of the apartment. It quickly spread and left a gaping hole in the roof.
Fortunately, the brothers have renters insurance and all of the people who lived in the six units will be able to move to other apartments in the complex.
The Red Cross is also assisting residents.
There were no injuries reported.
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