ATLANTA — For the more than 70 people who live in the 12 units destroyed by fire inside the Park at Galaway apartment complex, their lives are forever changed.
Now, other residents, nonprofits and even a nearby school are doing what they can to help.
Fire crews were called out to battle the blaze just before 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. When they got to the scene, the building was fully engulfed.
Officials said another building nearby was impacted as well.
Resident Jacquez Howard said it’s a tragedy because there are many young children who live there.
“It’s a lot of families, preferably, I would say single mothers and kids out here," Howard said.
The Red Cross has stepped in to help the families by offering comfort kits and assisting with people’s immediate needs.
Resident Jackie Terry explained that this feels like deja vu.
“At that point, I knew it was us. We just had a fire last year, so I was very frightened," Terry said.
Terry’s building was spared, but two others a few rows over were not.
Howard said he thinks lightning triggered the inferno.
“I just happened to tell my friends that lately, lightning has been striking things, so we walked outside because we kept seeing the police riding around, and we looked over there, and it was on fire," Howard said.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, but the East Point Fire Department confirmed that lightning could be the culprit.
The property manager at the complex said his management company is working to rehouse everyone at other locations.
11Alive has also learned that several of the kids who lived inside the complex are students at Brook View Elementary School.
Their assistant principal plans to reach out to the complex to find out how the school can help.