FLORENCE -- One building -- eight apartments -- of Florence's Sedgefield Apartments was destroyed by fire early Saturday afternoon.
Florence firefighters got the call about 1:40 and arrived to find heavy smoke and some flames visible out the roof of the building, located away from the main apartment complex.
The fire apparently started in the attic -- a common attic that ran the length of the building, Capt. Charles Rogers, Florence Fire Department, said. That allowed the fire to spread unchecked through the apartment building.
Once air got to the fire it was out of hand, Rogers said.
"There wasn't anything we could do," he said.
Firefighters were pulled out of the building and the effort turned to preventing the spread of the fire to other buildings in the complex.
Building resident Roger Emerson said the first warning he got was when a neighbor pounded on his door. Minutes later, after dressing, Emerson said he was walked out of his apartment with a firefighter.
Nobody was injured in the fire, Rogers said. The timing of the fire, early afternoon, played a key role in that, he added.
At one point firefighters were pouring so much water on the fire that supply seemed to be an issue and Second Loop Road around the apartment complex was shut down to allow a hydrant across the road to be used along with hydrants at the complex.
Firefighters from West Florence assisted at the scene while Windy Hill firefighters staffed Florence's main station in the event of another call.
Rogers said all eight apartments in the building were occupied and that the Pee Dee Chapter of the American Red Cross was called to assist the families.
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