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Posted: June 12, 2007

Fire Does Heavy Damage in Spring Lake Complex

Fire Burns Through Spring Lake Apartments

Fire Burns Through Spring Lake Apartments

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Spring Lake, N.C. — A fire that began with a lightning strike burned through the upper floor of a 12-unit apartment building in Spring Lake on Monday afternoon, and heat and water damaged the first floor, Spring Lake Mayor Ethel Clark said.

The blaze was at the Rivers Edge apartment complex at the corner of N.C. 210 and Pine Knoll Drive.

Spring Lake police said the fire broke out about 3:45 p.m. They reported that four of the 12 units were occupied, but officials did not know how many people were displaced.

Clark said firefighters had determined that the lightning struck one end of the roof, and flames then spread through the common area that connects above the six top-floor units.

The top-floor units were destroyed, Clark said.

Photographer: Lori Pickel

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communication was probaly horable because you got Fayetteville city,Fort Bragg,Pope Air Force,Harnett County, and Cumberland County all working off of differant communication systems

FIREMAN07
June 14, 2007 10:34 p.m.

Hope Mills, Ft Bragg and Pope AFB did too.

CGroh
June 14, 2007 8:08 a.m.

NC fire code states that a fire wall be in any apartments that are new. but that fire wall doesn't jave to be in the attic. I don't know why this is more than likely a thing that contractors lobbied for to cut down on the building cost. Also a fire wall in most buildings is just an extra thick sheet of sheet-rock, this will only hold the heat for about 1 to 2 hours the news never said how long after the strike was from the time someone called the fire department, I know this for a fact and that is that Lillington, Benhaven, Spout Springs, Anderson Creek, and Flat Branch all had trucks on scene of this fire. And that is from Harnett County only Cumberland County had God knows how many trucks on scene. Springlake is a great fire department, they just don't have the town money to back them up, they can't get any more firemen but the police can get what ever they want, but that is just who ever kisses it the most I guess, oh well

luckyman
June 13, 2007 11:58 p.m.

There was a firewall, but it didn't go up to the roof. Instead, there was an unprotected attic space above the apartments. The fire moved through that space and jumped the firewall. Apparently there is a code requiring a firewall, but it doesnt require it go up to the ceiling.

dim
June 13, 2007 2:17 p.m.

Ihope no pets died