Fire destroys several apartments, leaves neighbors emotional at Wilmington complex

The flames were extinguished and the smoke had long cleared, but the stench of burnt plastic was still fresh Monday afternoon at Mill Creek Apartments.

A blaze engulfed several apartments in the 400 block of the development Sunday evening, leaving 11 residents and 11 pets displaced. The roof of one Mill Creek Court building was taken by the blaze; the walls of the units reduced to charred wood beams.

Stacks of books, some shoes, a wooden end table and a partially burnt pothos plant — its long green leaves looking limp — were among the few items salvaged from the affected apartment units.

Previous coverage: Fire at Wilmington apartment complex displaces 11, ruled accidental

Neighbor Trudy Meek said Sunday night was an emotional one for everyone in the complex.

"When something happens to one of us, it happens to all of us," Meek said.

Rebekah Thurston, public information officer for the Wilmington Fire Department, said units responded around 6:30 p.m. By 7:30 p.m., the fire was extinguished and cleanup had begun.

According to a Monday news release, following an investigation, the fire was ruled accidental. The Fire Marshal's Office determined the fire was due to "improperly discarded smoking materials."

No injuries were reported, but one resident was trapped on a second-floor balcony and rescued by firefighters, Thurston said.

The resident was transported to Novant Health's New Hanover Regional Medical Center and released Monday. Two pets were also rescued from the building.

Sunday night, she said, Meek and many of her neighbors stood in horror and watched as firefighters arrived on scene and began battling the massive, quickly spreading flames. On Monday, they did what they could to help their affected neighbors and worked to ensure everyone was alright.

Meek said she's lived in the complex for the last four years and the community is "tight-knit."

"This is home," she said.

In total, 11 residents and 11 pets were displaced following the blaze. The fire was contained to one building, but a nearby building sustained damage to its siding.

The American Red Cross is assisting those affected and providing emergency financial assistance for needs such as shelter, food, relief items like toiletries, health and mental health services, according to a news release.

Cally Edwards, communications officer for Red Cross of Eastern North Carolina, said Red Cross volunteers were on scene Sunday evening working to reach those affected. Monday, she said, volunteers contacted those who were not on scene Sunday.

"A lot of times people think big hurricanes when they think Red Cross," Edwards said. In fact, she said, the Red Cross responds to various disasters annually, and many of them are house fires.

"When these happen, our disaster volunteers are ready, standing by, to help," Edwards said.

Jamey Cross is the public safety reporter at the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross. 

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington apartment fire leaves units destroyed, community shaken