Mother drops children to safety from 2nd story to escape DeKalb fire

Four people hurt in DeKalb County apartment fire

Neighbors say they saw the smoke and screamed to wake up the residents sleeping inside the burning DeKalb County building. Three residents and one firefighter were injured in the blaze.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - An early morning apartment fire has left three residents and a firefighter injured and multiple families displaced in DeKalb County.

The flames broke out in one of the units shortly after midnight Monday at the Orchard Walk complex on Flat Shoals Road. The fire spread quickly through Building 8.

Neighbors saw the smoke and screamed to wake those sleeping inside, say residents. 

"We couldn't get out the door," T'Quaneca Brown told FOX 5. She dropped her three kids from a second-story window to a neighbor below, then jumped.

Red Cross volunteers were at the scene, trying to contact those left without a home. As of Monday morning, volunteers have assisted 7 families and are working to reach out to eight more who were displaced by the fire.

"We are just lucky," Brown said.  "That neighbor is my angel."

Three residents were taken to the hospital and a firefighter was also hurt during the firefight, according to neighbors at the complex.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.

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