8 Families Displaced by Cartersville Apartment Fire

At least eight families were displaced by a fire Monday night at Mountain Chase Drive apartments in Cartersville.

An American Red Cross team of volunteers helped coordinate assistance in the form of food, shelter, clothing and emotional support to the eight families that were affected due to fire damage to the building, according to a press release.  

Lightning is believed to have the caused the 4 p.m. blaze, which was contained to the the attics of three units, reports WBHF-AM 1450. Residents were evacuated and fire crews worked into the night, according to The Daily Tribune News.

Last fiscal year, Red Cross' Northwest Georgia Chapter responded to 161 fires in northwest Georgia.

“We’re deeply saddened for those affected,” Chapter Executive Director Jeffrey Putnam said in a release. “As we continue to provide support to those affected, we also encourage others to take action to minimize the risk of a home fire.”

The Red Cross recommends two easy steps to help protect your home and loved ones from a fire: get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan. 

• Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
• Place smoke alarms on every level of your home, including bedrooms.
• Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries at least once a year. 
• Have a plan in place can help you escape, including at least two ways to escape from every room of your home and a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home. 
• Discuss the plan with everyone in the household and practice it at least twice a year.

Red Cross volunteers on the scene were members of the Chapter’s Disaster Action Team, a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon at any time of the day or night.

Tell us what you think in the comments, share your photos and videos, and don’t miss any of the local news you care about—subscribe to Cartersville Patch's newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.