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DURHAM — A couple and their three children were among 19 residents who escaped injury after a fire broke out at their Royal Oaks Apartments homes Tuesday night.
Investigators were still trying Wednesday to determine the cause the blaze, which extensively damaged an apartment building at 3554 Mayfair St., according to fire officials.
The residents were displaced and were provided lodging at a Red Roof Inn, as well as clothing and food.
Firefighters were called to the complex off Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard about 10:48 p.m. and saw heavy smoke and flames.
The building had fire damage to the roof and two apartments on the third floor, according to Fire Department spokeswoman Sierra Jackson. She said other parts of the building suffered water damage.
Shireeka Brodie, who lives in Apt. 104 in the building with her husband and three children, said she heard the hallway smoke alarms go off about 10:45 p.m.
“At first, I didn’t know what it was,’’ she said. “My husband went out the door and said he could smell something, so we tried to get the kids out. And then we came out here and saw the smoke coming from the top of the building. Then about five minutes later, you could see the flames.’’
She said her children were asleep when the fire broke out.
“They had been sleeping maybe an hour and a half, and it was hard getting them up. They sleep like rocks.’’
She said her family stayed in the yard as firefighters worked to put out blaze. She said she believes the fire started in an apartment above hers, which is on the first floor.
“We stayed out here until about 1:30 a.m. or 2,’’ she said. “And we gathered at the clubhouse, and the Red Cross came.’’
Brodie said she didn’t know how badly her apartment was damaged.
“We’re not able to go in yet,’’ she said Wednesday as she and husband stood in the yard outside the building. “We’re just out here waiting.’’
She said she wasn’t able to get any possessions out of her apartment before they evacuated.
