CREEDMOOR -- A fire at the Granville Oaks Apartments complex on Watershed Way off N.C. 56 just outside the Creedmoor city limits left eight apartments uninhabitable and at least one person injured.
Firefighters from Butner Public Safety, the Creedmoor Fire Department, the Redwood Volunteer Fire Department of Durham and others battled the blaze, according to an operator at Butner Public Safety Thursday night.
The operator said she could not comment further and that Butner firefighters were still at the scene at 7:30 and unavailable for comment.
A member of the Redwood VFD said he could not comment on the blaze and that all statements had to come through the Butner department.
MyNC.com, the online arm of WNCN NBC 17, reported that the building was engulfed when firefighters arrived shortly after 1 p.m.
"The fire had broken out of the apartment of origin," Wayne Hobgood with Butner Public Safety told MyNC.com. "The wind was blowing on the far side pushing the fire thru the apartments. We called for mutual aid from Creedmoor, Stem, Bahama and Redwood."
WRAL.com quoted apartment manager Sharon Ladd with saying a resident who had an oxygen tank in her apartment lit a cigarette, sparking the fire.
At least one woman suffered burns and was taken to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill for treatment. WRAL reported.
American Red Cross Central North Carolina Chapter Executive Toby Barfield said Thursday evening that he'd been told eight units of the upscale apartment complex were uninhabitable and that the Red Cross was taking care of 21 people affected by the blaze, including two families it had moved into a shelter.
Barfield said the Red Cross was providing clothing, food and medicines for other people affected.
He said he'd been told two injured people had been taken to the Burn Center, but could not confirm that.
He added that the Red Cross was also caring for two pets who lost their homes, a doberman and a guinea pig. "We've got them at a 'hotel' for pets," Barfield said.
To contribute the Red Cross local disaster relief fund, Barfield asked that people call (919) 489-6541.
-- Staff writer Mark Donovan contributed to this report.
