HIGH POINT, N.C. — A fire at a High Point apartment complex forced 30 people out of their homes Monday night. Fire officials said five people went to area hospitals for injuries, but they will all be OK.
Fire officials said the fire happened around 10:30 p.m. at the Copper Mill Village Apartments off Copperstone Drive.
Firefighters had to rescue five people on the upper floor from the windows.
"If you can imagine the top second and third floor windows with heavy smoke coming out and people hanging out the window," said High Point Batallion Chief Ricky Shelton.
Officials said 30 people, mostly adults, were displaced in at least nine units. Some pets were displaced as well. The American Red Cross said it is assisting a dozen families who were displaced.
The five people who went to area hospitals are all expected to be OK. Two of them went to Wake Forest Baptist for serious, but non-life threatening injuries. Two more were taken to Cone Health for smoke inhalation. One person went to a hospital in High Point to be checked out for minor injuries. No firefighters were hurt while battling the flames.
Firefighters don't know what exactly caused the fire at this time but High Point Fire Chief Thomas Reed said Tuesday it was likely accidental and not suspicious. Officials said some of the units had heavy fire damage and Reed told News 2 the entire building is unlivable right now.
Investigators were on the scene trying to piece together what happened and also helping residents get some of their belongings out of the charred building.
"It’s not that common to have this big of a fire (in High Point) but you know it is common to have fires in apartment buildings," said Shelton. "This just seems to be one of the bigger ones."
