Fire investigators say a space heater sparked the fire that sent one man to the hospital for smoke inhalation and evacuated a condominium complex, reports wcnc.com.
Neighbors said the fire started in a third-story condo at the back of the 1960s-era building.
The Charlotte Fire Department says a portable space heater sparked the fire in the living room of the third-story condo.
Two people from the condo where the fire started had to be rescued.
One was treated on scene, the other was taken to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.
Charlotte Fire Department Chief Jon Hannan said the first fire company to arrive quickly realized they would need more help.
“One reason this went to a third alarm so fast,” he said, “is we want a lot of firefighters here. We wanted to make sure we got all the people to the ground and out quickly.”
In all, 55 firefighters from 13 companies rushed to help. Ladder trucks and engines with their red lights flashing line Reece Road from Park Road to well past the condo building.
It took them 52 minutes to get the fire under control. The unit where the fire started was destroyed, said Hannan.
Once the fire was out, firefighters had to clear the air in the building before residents could return to their apartments.
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