An early morning three-alarm fire displaced as many as 40 families.
Officials said the fire happened around 1:54 a.m. Sunday in the 2100 block of Elm Hill Pike at The Cedars at Elm Hill apartment complex.
"It went really quick the flames were shooting up out the sky you could see it from Briley Parkway," said Najee Jamerson, resident.
Firefighters first arriving on scene found flames shooting 30 feet above the roof line from Briley Parkway.
Danielle Nixon, resident, told NewsChannel 5 she was outside walking her dog before she went to sleep, and saw smoke coming from a building.
Nixon went back to Jamerson's apartment and told him one of the apartments was on fire, and that's when Jamerson and a group of his friends ran to the burning building to get the sleeping residents out.
The building that was on fire and an adjacent building were both safely evacuated; however, flames were so intense they soon jumped to the adjacent building as well.
"I pulled the fire alarm and we all just stood back and watched it kind of burn really. Then we saw it hit the tree and knew it was going to go to the next building so we all ran to the other building banging on doors until we got people out," said Jamerson.
Crews fought the flames on both buildings for more than an hour.
Reports stated two firefighters were injured. Their injuries were listed as non-life threatening, including a laceration to one firefighter’s head and a back injury.
Authorities said power was cut to both buildings. Damage caused by fire, smoke, and water made 40 units unlivable, at least temporarily for some.
Those displaced were being helped by the American Red Cross.
"He didn't think twice about it. He got up acted instantly, and I'm glad he did. If he didn't there's not telling how many people would have gotten hurt," said Nixon.
The cause and origin of the fire were both unknown. The investigation remained ongoing.
