CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Flames tore through several apartments in south Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon.

 Dozens of firefighters converged at the Andover Woods Apartments off Sharon Lakes Road as fire shot from the roof just before 2 p.m.  Capt. Mark Basnight with the Charlotte Fire Department said no one was found inside during a searching of the building and no injuries were reported.

 Capt. Rob Brisley said more than 70 firefighters battled the three-alarm blaze. It took them about an hour to get it under control.  Eight apartments were heavily damaged by fire, smoke and water, Brisley said. Firefighters were able to save a dozen units from harm.

 Investigators said they determined an improperly discarded cigarette started the blaze. The cigarette melted a plastic trash bin on a second-floor balcony.  Resident Ronald Davis, who was watching TV when he heard someone say the building was on fire, estimated it took fewer than three minutes for the entire side of the building to go up in flames.

 “When I looked up, the porch, it was on fire. It was engulfed real heavy,” he said.

The Sasser family of three lost everything when their second-floor home burned. Kasey Sasser said she’s just glad everyone is OK.  “I’m happy nobody was hurt. It’s scary because one fire can burn down everybody’s apartment,” she said.  Police officers are limiting access to the complex and the building. The American Red Cross is assisting the eight displaced families.

Source: WSOCTV.com