Press Release: Thomasville battles multi-family house fire

Late Wednesday night, Thomasville firefighters responded to a multi-family, high-life hazard structure fire that has displaced 20 residents.

At 10:28 p.m., firefighters were sent to 301 James Avenue. Police in the vicinity also arrived quickly and immediately began evacuating the involved and adjacent apartments. At 10:32 p.m., the first arriving fire officer confirmed a heavily involved structure fire with flames through the roof. The house is a two-story, eight-unit apartment building owned and operated by the Thomasville Housing Authority.

Two residents - one adult and one child - suffered minor injuries while escaping their burning apartment. Both patients were assessed by Davidson County EMS and did not require transport. Multiple neighboring residents of the Thomasville Housing Authority opened their apartments to give the displaced residents a warm place to wait. Displaced residents were initially relocated to the Thomasville Housing Authority’s Life Skills Center to escape the frigid cold and today the Housing Authority is working with the Red Cross to provide further relocation assistance to the 20 residents impacted by the fire.

Thomasville Fire and Rescue received additional on-scene assistance from Thomasville Police Department, Duke Energy and the American Red Cross.

Following normal procedures, a joint investigation is being conducted by Thomasville Fire Marshal’s Office, Davidson County Fire Marshal’s Office, NC Office of the State Fire Marshal, and Thomasville Police Department’s CID.

The cause is currently under investigation and has not been determined at the time of this release.

Fair Grove Fire and Rescue, Hasty Fire and Rescue, and Pilot Fire Department provided standby coverage while crews were operating on scene.

Thomasville Fire and Rescue expresses the importance of each residence having operational smoke alarms. Please ensure these alarms are tested monthly and batteries are changed every six months.