Apartment Fire Forces Residents From Their Homes

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Updated: 8:11 PM Mar 14, 2007 Apartment Fire Forces Residents From Their Homes Albemarle County Fire Investigators are investigating an apartment fire along Sumter Court. Posted: 9:12 AM Mar 14, 2007 Reporter: Elizabeth Donatelli Email Address: elizabeth.donatelli@wcav.tv

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March 14, 2007

Albemarle County Fire Investigators are investigating an apartment fire along Sumter Court.

The fire started in a second story bedroom of one of the apartments. Officials are saying the probable cause is electronic equipment.

"He told us to get out of the house and I was scared for my life" said Chuck Onuegbu, a neighbor that smelled smoke.

Just after 7:30 Wednesday morning neighbors say they smelled smoke and woke up to sirens in this normally quiet neighborhood on Sumter Court near Fashion Square Mall.

"Four or five feet or something like that. It burnt the whole roof up, smoke was coming up everywhere. It was some crazy stuff. I've never seen a house on fire before or anything like that" said Onegbu.

Firefighters were able to control the a two alarm fire within 25 minutes on the scene. It looks like the fire and water damage was limited to three apartments. Damages are estimated at $250,000.

"The fire was there, there is some extension to the apartment below. And of course it got in to the attic as well. There's probably water damage in a third basement apartment." said Chief Doug Smythers, Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department.

No one was injured in the fire.

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