MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Three people, including a child, were forced to jump from the second floor of a Parkway Village apartment building to escape a fire, according to the Memphis Fire Department.
The fire department responded to a fire at the Villas at Willow Creek on Water Tree Drive at just before 6 p.m. Thursday evening. Heavy smoke was showing from the building when firefighters arrived on the scene.
A woman sustained a minor injury to her arm. She was treated and released on the scene.
The fire department says a juvenile has been arrested and charged with intentionally setting the fire in a closet.
Nickole Jack lives nearby. She captured video of the fire, watching as it consumed the apartments.
She was outside washing her car.
“At first you hear like a little, ‘pop, pop’ and I went in for just one minute,” Jack said.
When she came back, she found the building engulfed. Friday afternoon, all that is left is a gutted, charred shell of a building.
“The fire was spreading so fast,” Jack said. “I said I hope there’s no kids in there because it’s the summer time, parents go to work.”
Jack says she’s thankful fire crews were there to fight the flames, but it was tough watching not knowing what could happen next.
“You do feel helpless because it’s a fire,” Jack said. “It’s like seeing someone drown and you don’t know how to swim, that’s how it feels it’s like I want to help you.”
Back at the property Friday, a woman who says she works for the complex told us four families are affected. She claims no one jumped to make it out but told us everyone is safe.
“I feel sorry for them. I hope they find somewhere to stay,” the woman said.
People with the property management company tell us the Red Cross is helping the families.