Morrisville apartments damaged by fire
MORRISVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- At least 40 people including children are getting help from the Red Cross after fire tore through an apartment complex in Morrisville.
The initial flames at the Bexley Park Apartments created fear for most that lived there except for Lafayette Scott, who says the flames must have burned near him for at least an hour before he realized he too needed to evacuate.
"Nobody came to get us," said Scott. "Nobody came to evacuate us or tell us that anything was going on."
While all of this was going on around 1 p.m., Scott, his girlfriend, and their little girl continued to nap. The couple was resting after
working second and third shift jobs. They had no clue until Scott's girlfriend stepped outside.
"She then opens the front door and she walks into this hail of water and fire and water hoses," said Scott.
By his account the fire had already burned for an hour..
"We gathered what we could -- clothes, knick knacks, whatever like that and ran down," said Scott. "We were seeing the flames coming from the roof over here, and they had four fire trucks. Two posted here, two posted over there. I guess as back-up."
Officials say 45 firefighters from Morrisville and other areas responded, and quickly contained the third-floor blaze, but not before it spread to a nearby unit and arcing to another section of the building.
"People have lost everything," said Liz Mays, with the Triangle Red Cross. "It can be devastating to a family and that's where we come in to offer our assistance."
The Red Cross says the fire affected 22 units. Two units were destroyed, which displaced 48 adults and children.
For safety reasons, power is shutoff to the building on Autumn Day Drive, but at least it's not a total loss for everyone.
"I wasn't sure if it was going to burn down the whole building or if they had it under control," said Scott.
The Town of Morrisville says everyone evacuated safely, and there were no injuries.
The fire department hasn't issued an official cause yet, but a couple of neighbors told ABC11 that they were told a burning cigarette caused the fire.
