Fire Sparks at East Point Apartment Complex

EAST POINT, Ga. - Flames broke out at an East Point apartment complex on Monday night, leaving displaced residents and firefighters to brave cold temperatures.

It happened around 8 p.m. at the Colony at Camp Creek complex on Kenelworth Drive in East Point. Fire crews said 40-50 firefighters were involved in battling the flames, which sent heavy smoke billowing into the night sky.

Firefighters went through the apartment building, making sure no one was inside.

East Point Fire Chief Rosemary Cloud told Georgia Newsday they were forced to call in extra help immediately to battle the flames due to dropping temperatures, which cause fire crews to get depleted sooner and need more rest. Chief Cloud said one firefighter suffered chest pains at the scene and was taken to the hospital, but he was expected to be okay.

Chief Cloud stressed that fighting fires in frigid temperatures is much harder and requires many more firefighters than a normal blaze. She called Monday night’s fire ordinary, but she said when the elements are different, it changes things.

MARTA buses were called to the scene to help aid the displaced residents, and help the firefighters who were battling the fire. The Red Cross was also on the scene to offer help to displaced residents.

No injuries were reported. There’s no word yet on what sparked the blaze, or exactly how many residents were displaced by the fire.