Five Families Displaced After Early-Morning Blaze At Apartments

ATLANTA, GA -- Seventeen people from five families lost their home early Tuesday after a fire swept through an apartment building in Midtown.

The blaze happened about 2:25 a.m. at the Rolling Hills Apartments at 2500 Center St., according to the Red Cross, who rendered assistance to the displaced families.

Five units were damaged in the blaze, according to media reports.

"Red Cross has provided residents impacted with financial assistance to help pay for things like a place to stay, food and clothing for the next several days," Divina Mims-Puckett, spokeswoman for the Red Cross, told Patch. "Caseworkers will work one on one with families to ensure their emergency needs are met."

As the temperature drops around the region, the likelyhood of blazes inside residences increases as people light fireplaces or space heaters to keep warm.

Read more: Fire at Lindbergh apartments displaces 40 residents

Mims-Puckett said that there are a number of preventative steps homeowners can take to reduce the chance of fires at home.

"During the holidays, it's important for people to be cautious and on the lookout for potential hazards," she said. "Unattended candles, food left on the stove, improperly installed holiday lighting, space heaters and fire places can easily start a blaze. Having a working smoke alarm installed in the home helps ensure families can stay safe."

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