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Twenty people lost their homes overnight Thursday as a 3-alarm fire ripped through a Charlotte apartment complex, fire officials said.
The fire happened just before 3 a.m. on Branch Way Court. When crews arrived, Charlotte Fire Department said the fire had already extended into the attic space after burning through the second and third floors of the three-story complex.
By 3:13 a.m., crews requested a third-alarm due to “the amount of fire and the structural concern from falling debris,” officials said.
Fire crews were able to safely evacuate residents, officials said, and brought the fire under control shortly before 4 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
Officials say 12 apartment units were affected by the fire, and 20 residents were displaced. Damages have been estimated around $1.6 million.
The fire was caused by “improperly discarded smoking materials on an exterior second-floor balcony,” investigators said, and has been ruled accidental.
Charlotte Fire is reminding residents to properly dispose of cigarettes, cigars and other smoking products. These items should never be placed in planters, mulch beds, or on balconies, officials said.
Instead, use a deep, sturdy, non-combustible container filled with sand or water and ensure the material is fully out before disposal. “This simple step can prevent devastating fires and protect lives,” Charlotte Fire said in a post on X.
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